2.(★★★★★)Millions of people use contact lenses(隐形眼镜).For anyone who doesn’t mind sticking his fingers in his eyes,there are clear advantages:contacts correct vision better than glasses,are less often crushed underfoot,don’t make you look boring,and come in a huge variety of forms--soft,firm,colored,and even theatrical.

More and more people are turning to use of contact lenses.But are they safe?

Latest research from Australia shows that not all chemicals are effective in killing all germs(细菌)--and some of these germs can cause blindness in just 24 hours.

While most problems with contacts still can go back to poor hygiene(卫生)or overuse,not all sight-threatening conditions only happen to those who wash their lenses under the tap or decide,while tired and emotional,to sleep in their lenses for the third night running.

Two of the biggest eye-damaging killers--protozoan acanthamoeba and bacteria pseudomonas--are all around us,in our homes and water supplies.This seemingly harmless pair can cause blindness through keratitis(disease of the cornea).

“The cornea(角膜)is like a five-layered sandwich”,says Raymond Curran,a doctor from Omagh,Northern Ireland.“Once the bacteria get into a layer they can reproduce there and turn the cornea opaque(too dark to see through).”

An optician(验光师)may see one possibly sight-threatening case each month,but at an eye hospital there may be several each week.Acanthamoeba,often seemingly mild,can be misjudged until it is too late.Meanwhile,pseudomonas,more seriously,can cause increasing sight loss with each hour that passes.If not treated immediately,patients may need a corneal replacement.

And the really bad news,according to Professor Roger Buckley,at the Moorfields eye hospital in London,is that acanthamoeba is“one of the hardest germs on Earth”--it can survive in Antarctica.

Question 2:In the passage the writer mainly wants to tell us ________.

A.the possible danger of contacts

B.the importance of keeping contacts clean

C.some doctors’ opinions about contacts

D.the advantages and disadvantages of contacts

1.(★★★★★)A World of Opportunity

The New York Times is now better than ever.

All the more reason to order home delivery now.

NEW-SEPARATE sections for The Arts.Monday through Thursday,and Sports 7 days a week that you can pull out,take with you or pass along.

NEW-The Dining In,Dining Out section,Wednesdays,a banquet (宴席) of great meals you can make yourself,order up or eat out.

NEW-The House & Home section.Thursdays,filled with useful,interesting features and articles about making the most of all sorts of living spaces.

NEW-An expanded,two-part Weekend section.Fridays,with more ideas about movies,shows,

art exhibitions,outdoor and indoor recreations.

Latest news and sports results daily.And of course,daily world and national news,Sunday’s special sections and all the other great features you’ll continue to find in The Times.

Find out just how much YOU can benefit from The Times every day.

Call 1-800-331-1969 or use the postage-paid order card to order convenient home delivery at 50% OFF our regular price.

Question 1:The main idea of this advertisement is that ________.

A.many opportunities will be provided just to those who order home delivery

B.several new sections have been printed separately from now on

C.readers can be well informed of the latest news and sports results

D.people can pick up all the information they are interested in

8.(★★★★★)The passage mainly suggests that ________.

A.now men pay more attention to their clothes than women do

B.women always like beautiful dresses

C.people have paid more and more attention to the importance of dress

D.American culture is changing greatly

7.(★★★★★)It can be inferred from the passage that the author was ________.

A.a scientist as well as a naturalist　 　　　　　　　　 B.a naturalist as well as a scientist

C.no more than a born naturalist　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D.first of all a scientist

H

There is probably no field of human activity　 in which our values and lifestyles are shown more clearly and strongly than they are in the clothes that we choose to wear.The dress of an individual is a kind of “sign language ” that communicates a set of information and is usually the basis on which immediate impressions are formed.Traditionally,a concern for clothes was considered to be an affair of females,while men took pride in the fact that they were completely lacking in clothes consciousness(意识).

This type of American culture is by degrees　 changing as man dress takes on greater variety and color.Even as early as 1955,a researcher in Michigan said that men attached rather high importance to the value of clothing in daily life.White-collar- workers in particular viewed dress as a symbol(象征) of ability,which could be used to impress or influence others,especially in the work situation.The white-collar worker was described as extremely concerned about the impression his clothing made on his superiors(上司).Although blue-collar workers were less aware(察觉到的) that they might be judged on the basis of their clothing,they recognized that any difference from the accepted pattern of dress would be made fun of by fellow workers.

Since that time,of course,the patterns have changed:the typical office worker may now be wearing the blue shirt,and the laborer a white shirt;but the importance of dress has not become less.Other researchers in recent years have helped to prove its importance in the lives of individuals at various age levels and in different social and economic status groups(阶层).

6.(★★★★★)You may find this passage in ________.

A.a newspaper　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　 B.a book

C.a magazine 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D.an official document

G

Looking back on my childhood,I realize that naturalists are born and not made.Although we were all brought up in the same way,my brothers and sisters soon gave up their pressed flowers and insects.Unlike them,I had no ear for music and languages.I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic.

Before World War Ⅰ we spent our summer holidays in Hungary.I have only the unclear memory of the house we lived in,of my room and my toys .Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents,aunts,uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a clear memory of the dogs,the farm animals,the local birds,and above all,the insects.

I am a naturalist,not a scientist.I have a strong love of the natural world and my eagerness has led me into varied studies or research.I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil while reading about other people’s observations and discoveries.Then something happens that brings these observations together in my sensible mind.Suddenly you imagine you see the answer to the puzzling question,because it all seems to fit together.This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books,which some might honor with the title of scientific research.

But curiously,a sharp eye,a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant worlds do not make a scientist;one of the best-known and important qualities required is self-training,a quality I lack.A scientist requires not only self-discipline but hard training,determination and a goal.A scientist,up to a point,can be made.A naturalist is born.If you can combine the two,you get the best of both.

5.(★★★★★)It is implied but not said directly that ________ after joining the WTO.

A.some industries will not develop because of strong competition

a’s foreign trade will be restricted by the WTO rules

a’s car industry will develop fast

D.ordinary people can buy cheaper goods

F

We welcome you aboard the Finnair Flight and will do our best to make your trip comfortable and enjoyable.

For your safety and convenience

To begin the trip , we would like to draw your attention to some safety-related details. These are also explained on the instruction card in the seat pocket in front of you.Seat belts must remain fastened while the “Fasten seatbelts”sign is on.It is advisable to keep them fastened at all times while seated . All flights are non-smoking . The use of mobile telephones is now allowed when the airplane is on the ground and “the fasten seatbelts”sign is turned off. During the flight the use of CD and DVD players is now allowed.

For your entertainment

To help you enjoy your trip, we provide a range of newspapers on international flights . On our MD-11 and Boeing aircraft,we are also pleased to provide music and video programs. On Airbus A321/320/319,aircraft route maps and short videos are shown. Details of entertainment programs available on MD-11 aircraft are shown on the separate“On the Air” brochure located in your seat pocket.

For your children

Special reading material is provided for children and no longer flights there are also audio and video programs for them. On long-distance flights, first-time flyers between the ages of 2 and 15 can join our Finnair Junior Plus Club.

Meals and drinks

During most flights we serve you a tasty meal with drinks to accompany it . Beer, wine and other drinks are served free of charge.Coffee , tea and juice are served free of charge on all domestic flights of over 35 minutes. On domestic flights leaving before nine and on all flights to northern Finland, a snack is served. We value your opinion.

In this magazine you’ll find a special form for your comments about our service.Kindly return the form to our crew or any Finnair office . It will be forwarded directly to the appropriate department . You can also fax it (+358-(0)89819-7729)or send your comments by e-mail to feedback@. Our crew is pleased to answer your questions during the flight whenever possible.

4.(★★★★★)Which of the following statements is implied but not stated?

A.The growth of the world’s population has meant greater danger to wildlife.

B.About a thousand species of animals are in danger of dying out.

C.The rate of extinction of mammals is lower now than it was from AD 1 to 1800.

D.Hunters who kill endangered species are severely punished by law.

E

After entering the WTO,China will enjoy the most favored nation status as a member country.This will enable China’s products to enter foreign markets at a lower tax.After joining the WTO,China has to carry out the WTO’s rules and open its home markets;this will help further improve the investment (投资)environment and strengthen the appeal(吸引力)of Chinese markets to foreign investment.It is conducive(有利的)to speeding the readjustment of our industrial structure.And it helps continue deepening China’s economic restructuring(改进).

It helps China to take part in the formulation of new rules of international trade,protecting China’s rights and interests and raising China’s international status.

Of course,in joining the WTO,China will have to take up some duties,this will surely bring certain pressure and challenge to us.

Firstly,further opening the market will cause some domestic products,enterprises and industries to face stronger competition.

Secondly,China’s foreign economic and trade management will,to a certain extent,be restricted by the WTO rules.

In looking at the advantages and disadvantages of China’s joining the WTO,we cannot base ourselves on one or several industries,instead we should keep an eye on the development of the entire economy.Looking upon the matter from the entire industry,entry into the WTO will bring to China’s industries greater opportunities than its side effects.Most Chinese industries will gain more opportunities for development.

To ordinary people,entry into the WTO means cheaper foreign goods.At present,some imported goods are very expensive because our country collects very nigh taxes on them.After entry into the WTO,these taxes will be cut down gradually so that it will force down the prices of imported goods coming into China.Home customers will benefit greatly.But it is not wise to hope that all foreign goods will become cheap overnight.In fact,according to the WTO agreement,there is a period of time during which some important but underdeveloped industries are protected so that they will not be destroyed by the rush of cheaper foreign goods.The car industry is a good example.It is believed that during the first few years after China’s entry into the WTO,the prices of cars will remain comparatively stable (稳定).

3.(★★★★★)What can you infer from the article?

A.The classical art is much too dull and lifeless.

B.Both of the two artists learned a lot from the classical art.

C.Both of the two artists had a very hard life,especially suffered from poverty(穷困).

D.The classical art has been the aim of the two artists.

D

In many countries today,laws protect wildlife.In India the need for such protection was realized centuries ago.

About 300 BC an Indian writer described forests that were somewhat like national parks today.The killing of game beasts was carefully supervised.Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest,nobody was allowed to cut trees,burn wood for charcoal,or trap animals for their furs.Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were trapped or killed outside the park,so that other animals would not become uneasy.

The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before.About a thousand species of animals are in danger of extinction,and the rate at which they are being destroyed has increased.With mammals,for instance,the rate of extinction is now about one species every year;from AD 1 to 1800,the rate was about one species every fifty years.Everywhere,men are trying to solve the problem for preserving wildlife while caring for the world’s growing population.

2.(★★★★★)Which of the following can be inferred from this passage?

A.The economy is more important to government than people’s health is.

B.Governments think chemicals　 brings them more economic benefits than economic cost.

C.The public knows enough about the dangers of chemical pollution.

D.The governments fully realize the long-term economic costs of chemical pollution.

C

Vincent Van Gogh was an important painter of the 19th century.He was born in Holland,but he lived much of his life in France.He was a very emotional man,and there was much suffering in his life.

His style of painting was very different from classical art.He painted pictures of the sunny,hot regions of France.He looked for interesting shapes and exciting colors.He liked to work freely and quickly.There is fast movement in many of his paintings.Sometimes the trees look like fire.The sun,moon,and stars move rapidly in the sky.He also painted pictures of people.

Paul Gauguin was another 19th century painter.He was French and a friend of Van Gogh.Before he became an artist,Gauguin had been a businessman for many years.He made a lot of money and he liked to buy modern,paintings.

At the age of 35 Gauguin decided to become a painter himself.Money had become too important to many people.Gauguin wanted to discover more important things about man.He went to a different Part of France to live with the farmers.He painted pictures of French country people there.Two years later he went to live in a small place in the Pacific Ocean,thousands of miles from France.He wanted to learn about the simple life there.His most famous and interesting paintings were painted at that time.

1.(★★★★★)It can be inferred that young mothers would try to keep their children away from the old because ________.

A.they feared their children might hurt the old

B.they didn’t like their children to take up the space belonging to the old

C.they felt it was wrong to play balls near where the old stayed

D.they didn’t want their children to have anything to do with the old

B

In spite of the strong opposition to new and stricter environmental laws,however,it is still possible to attack the problem of chemical pollution;but we must attack it from three directions.First,we need more independent research into the effects of chemicals by scientists who are not paid by the government or by the large industrial companies.Second,scientists need to educate the general public and inform them about the dangers of chemicals in the environment.If the public knows that a certain chemical threatens the health of their childen,then they will put pressure on politicians in local and national governments.If the politicians want to remain in office,they will take action to correct the situation.Third,economists need to educate governments about the long-term economic costs of chemicals.It will be extremely expensive to clean areas of land which are polluted by chemicals;it will be even more costly to give medical treatment to people who are suffering from serious illnesses after exposure to dangerous chemicals.If governments realize this,the short-term economic benefits of chemicals will seem much less attractive to them.

If we can put pressure on governments in these three ways,perhaps they will begin to behave more responsibly(有责任心地),and they will perhaps pass new laws against pollution and enforce them strictly.Perhaps,then,the chemical producers will begin to behave more responsibly.