E

　　 People living on part of the south coast of England face a serious problem. In 1993, the owners of a large hotel and of several houses discovered to their horror, that their gardens had disappeared overnight. The sea had eaten into the soft limestone(石灰岩) cliffs on which they had been built. While experts were studying the problem, the hotel and several houses disappeared altogether, sliding down the cliff and into the sea.

　　 Erosion(侵蚀)of the white cliffs along the south coast of England has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be given up as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most affected and have drawn up a map for local people, forecasting the year in which their homes will be swallowed up by the hungry sea.

　　 Angry owners have called on the Government to build sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases ,this is impossible .New sea walls would cost hundreds of millions of pounds and would merely make the waves and currents go further along the coast ,shifting the problem from one area to another. The danger is likely to continue ,they say ,until the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten as limestone is .Meanwhile, if you want to buy a cheap house with an uncertain future, apply to a house agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home.

72. What is the cause of the problem that people living on parts of the south coast of England face?

　　 A. The rising of the sea level.

　　 B. The experts' lack of knowledge.

　　 C. The washing-away of limestone cliffs.

　　 D. The disappearance of hotels, houses and gardens.

73. The erosion of the white cliffs in the south of England　 ________.

　　 A. will soon become a problem for people living in central England

　　 B. has now become a threat to the local residents

　　 C. can be stopped if proper measures are taken

　　 D. is quickly changing the map of England

74. It is not possible to build sea defenses to protect against erosion because ________.

A. house agents along the coast do not support the idea

　　 B. it is too costly and will endanger neighboring areas

　　 C. the government is too slow in taking action

　　 D. they will be easily knocked down by waves and currents

75. According to the author, when buying a house along the south coast of England, people

　 should　 ________.

　　 A.　 take the quality of the house into consideration

　　 B.　 guard against being cheated by the house agent

　　 C.　 examine the house carefully before making a decision

D.　　 know of the hidden danger

D

　　 Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road

　　　　　 ------Reported by Sheila Carrick

　 Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.

　 Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.

　 “Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads,” the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.

　 “Ecopassages” may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. “These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents,” said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society.

　 But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lions used the passage.

　 Builders of ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders(蜥蜴) and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.

　 The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass!

68. The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that ________.　

A.　　 wild animals have become more dangerous

B.　　　 the driving conditions have improved greatly

C.　　　 the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

D.　　 an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

69. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is _______.

　 A. an underground path for cars　　　　　 B. a fence built for the safety of the area

　 C. a bridge for animals to get over a river　　 D. a pass for animals to cross the road

70. When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, he means ________.

A.　　 animals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B.　　　 animals begin to learn to use ecopassages

C.　　　 animals are crossing the road in groups

D.　　 animals are increasing in number

71. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because ________.

　 A. wild animals may attack cars　　　　　 B. wild animals may jam the road

　 C. they may see wild animals in the park　　 D. they may see wild animals on ecopassages

C

　 Everyone’s at it, even my neighbors. I thought I might be the only person left in the world who hadn’t done an eBay deal. So, I decided to try my hand at online auction (拍卖).

Buying for beginners: Sign up on www.ebay .co .uk.. Most items (e. g. tables, computers, and books) ready for auction will come with a picture and a short description; others may be marked with “Buy It Now” and have a fixed price. You can buy these right away.

　 If the item is being auctioned, you offer the highest price you are prepared to pay and eBay bids(出价) for you. The bid will be increased little by little until it goes beyond your highest bid, then you are emailed and asked if you would like to bid again. Auctions last up to 10 days and when they finish you get an email telling you whether you have won the item.

How to pay: Sellers decide how they would like to be paid and you need to check this before placing a bid as you might not want to post a cheque or postal orders. The easiest way is through PayPal, an online payment system that takes the money away from your credit card.

Selling made simple: If you plan to sell on eBay, it helps to include a picture of the item. I followed my friends’ advice and put up the items I wanted to sell for a 10-day auction, starting on a Thursday. This way buyers had two weekends to bid.

The big things in life: It’s easy to post a small item, but furniture is a big part of eBay and this has to be collected or sent by deliverymen. Check the ways of delivery before you bid.

65. What is the passage mainly about?

A.　　 How to make payment online.

B.　　　 Ways of making delivery online.

C.　　　 Advantages of an online-auction system.

D.　　 How to use an online-auction system.

66. After bidding for an item, a buyer _______.

A.　　 will get what he wants in ten days

B.　　　 should make payment immediately

C.　　　 has chances to make higher bids

D.　　 may check its picture and description

67. The easiest way of making payment mentioned in the passage is _______.

A.　　 through an online payment system

B.　　　 through a local banking system

C.　　　 by sending the money to the seller

D.　　 by paying the deliveryman directly

A.

Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward (别扭的) hand positions. They will allow the worker to keep the elbows (肘) next to the body to prevent damage to the shoulder and arm.

Overuse injuries can therefore be prevented or reduced if the employer provides, and workers use:

●　　 power tools rather than having to use muscle power

●　　 tools with specially designed handles that allow the wrist (手腕) to keep straight (see the figures ). This means that hands and wrists are kept in the same position as they would be if they were hanging relaxed at a person’s side

●　　 tools with handles that can be held comfortably by the whole hand. This means having a selection of sizes---remember that tools that provide a comfortable firm hold for a person with a very large hand may be awkward for someone with a very small hand. This is a particularly important consideration for women who may use tools originally designed for men

●　　 tools that do not press fingers (or flesh )between the handles, and whose handles do not have sharp edges or a small surface area.

56. Which is the best title for the passage?

A.　　 Good Tool Design for Women　　　　　 B. Importance of Good Tool Design

C.　　　 Tool Design and Prevention of Injuries　 D. Overuse of Tools and Worker Protection

57. Which of the following describes a well-designed tool?

A.　　 It’s kept close to the body.　　　　　　　 B. It fully uses muscle power.

C.　　　 It makes users feel relaxed.　　　　　　 D. It’s operated with less force .

58. What are the two figures used to show?

A.　　 The effective use of the tool.　　　　　　 B. The way of operating the tool.

C.　　　 The proper design of the handle.　　　　 D. The purpose of bending the wrist.

59. In choosing tools for women, ________ of the handle is the most important.

　 A. the size　　　 B. the edge　　 C. the shape　　 D. the position

B

Empty Deserts

　　 In the 19^th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the “Great American Desert in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.

The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and in TV.

　　 In Arizona, man made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.

　　 There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.

　　 In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130 degrees. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---- 925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.

　　 Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live under ground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water.　 When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant colors.

60.　　 In the 19^th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they ______.

A. enjoy the trip　　　　　　　　 　　B. wanted to make their home there

C. wanted to find new grassland there　 　D. had no water to drink

61.　　 From the passage, we can conclude that ______.

A.　　　 the western desert is a good place for people to live in

B.　　　　 there is little water but there are many trees in the desert

C.　　　　 the desert is dangerous but it is full of life

D.　　　 till now, people know little about the desert

62.　　 If you want to find some old native American pictures painted on the rock you must go ______.

A. on foot　　 B. by boat　　 C. by car　　 D. by plane

63.　　 In the 1800s many travelers died in Death Valley because of ______.

A. illness　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. high temperature　　

C. cold weather　　　　　　　　　 D. poisonous water

64.　　 In the desert, animals will die ______.

A. if they move about　　　 B. if they cannot make holes underground

C. if they come out at night　 D. if they drink much water

These days experience, like many other things, is becoming increasingly expensive. One’s got a lot to get an experience, even 　36　 one.

Not long ago, I wanted to　 37 　my friend to a lunch. What we really needed was a good and quiet place for some conversation, not a big meal, so I selected one only for people including myself who 　38　 to a particular club. What could be nicer? “ Let’s go to the 　39　 ,” I told my friend.

When I ordered a day in advance, I was asked　 40　 I would eat a 20 yuan　 41　 50 yuan lunch. I said, “50 yuan”. I didn’t 　42　 , until I was asked to pay　 43　 the lunch, that “50 yuan” means “50 yuan for each person.”

　There were five of us the other day, and all of us were surprised by the quality of the 50 yuan meal ( for　 44 　, we thought). The bill came at last; it was 310. 40 (　 45　 yuan for the five of us plus the charges for　 46　 , fruits and air-conditioning). I paid the bill without a 　47　 .

What could I say? It was not　 48 　fault. It was my own　 49　 that made me pay the largest lunch bill of my life.

On the whole, it was not so unhappy, we had a good lunch and in a beautiful place.　 __50__, the experience was valuable, and will　 51　 in later years

To support the logic(逻辑) of the lunch　 52　 , I have developed my own way to explain it: 50 yuan for the　 53 　and 260.40 for the 　54　

This　 55　 experience has made me ten times wiser.

36. A. an ordinary　　　 B. a special　　　　 C. a useful　　　　 D. an important

37. A. ask　　　　　　 B. order　　　　　 C. show　　　　　 D. treat

38. A. lead　　　　　　 B. stick　　　　　　 C. go　　 　　　　D. belong

39. A. club　　　　　　 B. restaurant　　　　 C. dining-hall　　 D. hotel

40. A. why　　　　　　 B. how　　　　　　 C. when　　　　 D. whether

41. A. or　　　　　　　 B. and　　　　　　 C. from　　　　　 D. with

42. A. think　　　　　　 B. tell　　　　　　 C. realize　　　　 D. believe

43. A. after　　　　　　 B. before　　　　　 C. during　　　　 D. about

44. A. each　　　　　　 B. some　　　　　　 C. a lot　　　　　 D. all

45. A. 250　　　　　　 B. 200　　　　　　 C. 150　　　　　 D. 300

46. A. cakes　　　　　　 B. drinks　　　　　 C. dishes　　　　 D. tickets

47. A. change　　　　　 B. coin　　　　　　 C. word　　　　　 D. mind

48. A. the waiter’s　　　 B. the club’s　　　　 C. my　　　　　　 D. their

49. A. business　　　　 B. wish　　　　　　 C. promise　　　　 D. carelessness

50. A. Besides　　　　 B. However　　　　 C. Therefore　　　　 D. Otherwise

51. A. make　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　 C. understand　　　 D. succeed

52. A. room　　　　　 B. time　　　　　　 C. bill　　　　　　 D. meal

53. A. air conditioning　 B. food　　　　　 C. fruits　　　　　　 D. lunch

54 A. experience　　　 B. position　　　　 C. quality　　　　 D. conversation

55. A. unfair　　　　　 B. paid　　　　　　 C. stupid　　　　　 D. given

35.　 ---Nothing wrong with it, ______?

　 　---No. Yours is a specially-built model. Drive carefully, though.

A. is it　　　 B. has it　　　 C. are they　　 D. is there

34.　 ________ snacks and drinks, but they also brought cards for entertainment when they had a picnic in the forest.

A.　　 Not only they brought　 B. Not only brought they　

B.　　　 Not only they did bring　 D. Not only did they bring

33.　 It is not how much homework that you do but how you do it ________.

A.　　 counts　 B. count　 C. that counts　 D. that count

32.　 Every ________ had been made in order to save the boy with the H5N1 bird flu, but all in vain. He died at last.

A.　　 effect　 B. affect　 C. infect　 D. effort

31.　 People in the earthquake-stricken areas in Pakistan ________ the basic necessities of life.

A.　　 lacked　 B. were lack of　 C. lacked of　 D. were lacked of