As people slowly learn to cure diseases, control floods, prevent hunger, and stop wars, fewer people die every year. As a result, the population of the world is becoming larger. In 1925 there were about 2 billion people in the world; today there are over 6 billion.
When the number rises, extra mouths must be fed. New lands must be brought under development, or land already farmed must be made to produce more crops. In some areas the land is so over-developed that it will be difficult to make it provide more crops. In some areas the population is so large that the land is divided into too tiny units to make improvement possible with farming methods. If a large part of this farming population went into industrial work, the land might be farmed much more productively (多产地) with modern methods.
There is now a race for science, technology, and industry to keep the output of food rising faster than the number of people to be fed. New types of crops, which will grow well in bad weather, are being developed, so there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle in Siberia and North America. Irrigation (灌溉) and dry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough. Dams hold back the waters of great rivers, which can provide water for the fields in all seasons and provide electric power for new industries. Industrial chemistry provides fertilizer to suit different soils. Every year, some new methods are made to increase or to protect the food of the world.
【小题1】The author says that the world population is increasing because _____.

A．there are many rich valleys and large fields

B．farmers are producing more crops than before

C．people are living longer due to better living conditions

D．new lands are being made into farmlands

【小题2】The author says that in areas with large populations, land might be more productively farmed if _____.

A．the land was divided into smaller pieces

B．people moved into the countryside

C．industrial methods were used in farming

D．the units of land were much larger

【小题3】We are told that there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle. This has been made possible by _____.

A．growing new types of crops	B．irrigation and dry-farming means
C．providing fertilizers	D．destroying pests and diseases

【小题4】 Why do some people use dams to hold back waters from great rivers?

A．To develop a new kind of dry-farming methods.

B．To prevent crops from floods.

C．To provide water and electricity in all seasons.

D．To water poor lands in bad weather.

阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

Thomson中学学生Mike、Joseph、Anna、Ian和Susan正在计划下学期各自的选修课程。阅读第46~50题中的各人情况说明和A和F六门选修课的介绍，选出符合各人个性特长的最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。

THOMSON HIGH SCHOOL

A

Creative Writing — by Mrs. A. McClellan

Creative writing is a course in which we study and apply the methods used in various forms of fiction writing. Writing is a skill of art in itself. We are guided by Ezra Pound’s opinion:“Make it new.”Creative writing does not only provide us with an opportunity to express ourselves, but also holds our attention to word choice, paragraph development, and other skills useful in writing.

B Journalism — by Dr. E. Brandt

Journalism is a course for seniors, in which we will cover how to gather, write, and report the news. We will discuss how information is, or can be, organized. This course also aims to develop communication skills required of journalists.

C

A classic is a literary work that has stood the test of time. Generations of readers have turned to classics to discover that which is ever-lasting. Through both the works themselves and the people they mirror, we may better be able to see ourselves. In this course, we will read works in both British and American literature（文学）. We will write reviews of what we read.

D Technical Writing — by Mr. J. Allen

What is technical writing? It is the course devoted to improving your communication skills in, for , and through technology. Activities for this course will help you develop communication skills that are necessary for writers and speakers working with technology or in business.

E Non-fiction — by Dr. M. Tim

The course is a study of non-fiction through reading many different types of non-fiction. The course will also be about the possible changes in journalistic reporting and the sharing of personal stories of various people on various topics such as travel and adventure. We will examine some of the best writing in the world and deal with the techniques used in this text type.

F World Literature — by Mrs. A. McClellan

World Literature examines the common people found in quality Literature worldwide, from Europe to America, from Asia to Africa, and introduces a variety of cultural background at different points in history. In these worlds, we find not only what is unique to each culture, but what is universal. We are also able to tell what makes for a good story, no matter from where or whom the story springs.

 

46.Mike spent his childhood mostly in his father’ s study, where he read novels by British and American writers. Next term he will become a senior student. He thinks it’ s time that he read more of their works and learned to write about them.

47.Joseph is good at the language arts, and in his spare time he likes to write short stories. It is his wish that his stories would be printed in local newspapers. So he is thinking of taking a course to develop his writing skills, such as wording and paragraph organization.

48.A lively and caring girl, Anna takes an active part in social activities. She is trying to write reports for newspapers about what she sees and hears But few of them are accepted because of poor organization of information. She feels the need to improve her writing and communication skills next term.

49.Ian traveled worldwide with his parents when he was very young. Under their influence, he becomes greatly interested in stories of travel and adventure. He hopes to write his own stories in the future. So next term, he will choose a course to study the best writing of this type.

50.Susan comes from China. As a junior back home, she wrote quite a lot of short stories, some of which were published in newspapers. Her parent’ s suggest she read some classics by Asian and Western writers. She thinks it helpful in her writing. So she is going to take a course of this kind next term.

 

E
Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world. In rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertiser, hoping to sell their products.
The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people’s lives. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item(商品) that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.
It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed with which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with case into a shop and buy one thing; no choice, no anxiety.
【小题1】 What does the author try to argue in Paragraph 1?

A．The exercise of rights is a luxury.

B．The practice of choice is difficult.

C．The right of choice is given but at a price.

D．Choice and right exist at the same time.

【小题2】 Why do more choices of goods give rise to anxiety?

A．Professionals find it hard to decide on a suitable product.

B．People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persuasion.

C．Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items.

D．Companies and advertisers are often misleading about the rage of choice.

【小题3】By using computers as an example, the author wants to prove that    .

A．advanced products meet the needs of people

B．products of the latest design fold the market

C．competitions are fierce in high-tech industry

D．everyday goods need to be replaced often

【小题4】 What is this passage mainly about?

A．The variety of choices in modern society.

B．The opinions on people’s right in different countries

C．The Problems about the availability of everyday goods.

D．The helplessness in purchasing decisions

Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decissions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertisers hoping to sell their products.

　The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people's life. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an ubsuitable item that it is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals,lifestyle instructors,or advisors.

　　It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed with which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing: no choice, no anxiety.

60. What does the author try to argue in Paragraph 1?

A. The exercise of rights is a luxury　

B. The practice of choice is difficult

C. The right of choice is given but at a price　

D. Choice and right exist at the same time

61. Why do more choices of goods give rise to anxiety?

A. Professionals find it hard to decide on s suitable product

B. People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persusion.

C. Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items.

D. Companies and advertisers are often misleading about the range of choice.

62. By using computers as an example, the author wants to prove 　　.

A. advanced products meet the needs of people.

B. products of the latest design flood the market

C. competitions are fierce in high-tech industry

D. everyday goods needs to be replaced often

63. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The variety of choices in modern society　　　　　

B. The opinions on people's right in different countries

C. The problem about the availability of everyday goods

D. The helplessness in purching decisions

As people slowly learn to cure diseases, control floods, prevent hunger, and stop wars, fewer people die every year. As a result, the population of the world is becoming larger. In 1925 there were about 2 billion people in the world; today there are over 6 billion.

When the number rises, extra mouths must be fed. New lands must be brought under development, or land already farmed must be made to produce more crops. In some areas the land is so over-developed that it will be difficult to make it provide more crops. In some areas the population is so large that the land is divided into too tiny units to make improvement possible with farming methods. If a large part of this farming population went into industrial work, the land might be farmed much more productively (多产地) with modern methods.

There is now a race for science, technology, and industry to keep the output of food rising faster than the number of people to be fed. New types of crops, which will grow well in bad weather, are being developed, so there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle in Siberia and North America. Irrigation (灌溉) and dry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough. Dams hold back the waters of great rivers, which can provide water for the fields in all seasons and provide electric power for new industries. Industrial chemistry provides fertilizer to suit different soils. Every year, some new methods are made to increase or to protect the food of the world.

1.The author says that the world population is increasing because _____.

A．there are many rich valleys and large fields

B．farmers are producing more crops than before

C．people are living longer due to better living conditions

D．new lands are being made into farmlands

2.The author says that in areas with large populations, land might be more productively farmed if _____.

A．the land was divided into smaller pieces

B．people moved into the countryside

C．industrial methods were used in farming

D．the units of land were much larger

3.We are told that there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle. This has been made    possible by _____.

A．growing new types of crops	B．irrigation and dry-farming means
C．providing fertilizers	D．destroying pests and diseases

4. Why do some people use dams to hold back waters from great rivers?

A．To develop a new kind of dry-farming methods.

B．To prevent crops from floods.

C．To provide water and electricity in all seasons.

D．To water poor lands in bad weather.