1. Which statement is true of the description in the first two paragraphs? Coyne is not really driving so it is impossible for him to have hit the woman.
2. What do researchers want to find out, according to the third and fourth paragraphs? All of the above.
3. What are the preliminary results given in the fifth paragraph? In challenging driving situations, drivers do not have any additional mental energy to deal with something else.
4. The sixth paragraph mainly state that the researchers want to determine the best ways of giving navigational information system.
5. What kind of directions do men and women prefer? Men prefer more general directions and women prefer route directions.
“Don’t Drink Alone” Gets New Meaning 不要在就餐时间以外饮酒有了新含义
1. Researchers have found that the risk of cancer in the mouth and neck is higher with people who drink alcohol at outside of meals.
2. Which of the following is NOT the conclusion made by the researchers about “drinking with meals”? It increases by 20 percent the possibility of cancer in all sites.
3. Approximately how many drinks do the lowest-intake group average per day? 3 drinks.
4. Which cancer risk is the lowest among all the four kinds of cancer mentioned in the passage? Laryngeal cancer.
5. According to the last paragraph, tissue’s lower exposure to alcohol reduces the risk of laryngeal cancer.
Defending the Theory of Evolution Still Seems Needed 捍卫进化论仍必要
1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following statements about the theory of evolution is true? School boards oppose AIBS’s effort to defend the theory of evolution.
2. Which one of the following is NOT the reason for an overall lack of teaching Darwin’s theory? Darwin’s theory is denied as the central theory of biology.
3. AIBS’s is composed of more than 80 societies and 250,000 members.
4. According to Weis in the 5th paragraph, the theory of evolution is fundamental to the development of modern genetics, molecular biology and genomics.
5. Why do people replace the term creationism with the term intelligence design nowadays? Because the term creationism is too direct.
Digital Realm 数码王国
1. The techniques of voice recognition are in its initial stage of development.
2. According to the second paragraph, when we reach the stage of artificial intelligence, machines can be our agents as they understand our thoughts.
3. What’s the best description of Gordon Moore’s law as mentioned in the third paragraph? It motivates the development of the digital world.
4. What can people do in a future scene as described in the fourth paragraph? All of the above.
5. Which of the following statements is true of a personalized market? In a personalized market, products are tailored to each consumer.
Don’t Count on Dung 不要轻信象粪
1. The word “threatened” in the first sentence of the first paragraph could be best replaced by “endangered”.
2. Why do researchers estimate elephant numbers in an area by counting dung piles? Because it is not possible to count elephants from a plane.
3. Piles of dung can’t be relied upon when it comes to estimating elephant numbers because they are different in decay rate.
4. When researchers carry out a dung-pile census, according to Plumptre, the area selected should be so large that elephants can’t move in and out of it freely.
5. All of the following are indirect evidence EXCEPT trunks.
Electronic Mail (E-mail)电子邮件
1. The reasons given below about the popularity of E-mail can be found in the passage EXCEPT direct and reliable.
2. How is the Internet or net explained in the passage? Electronic routes connected among millions of users, home and abroad.
3. What does the sentence “If it is not yet speeding discoveries, it is certainly accelerating communication.” Most probably mean? It quickens mutual communication even if it does not accelerate discoveries.
4. What does the sentence “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” Imply in the last paragraph? E-mail has become very popular.
5. What will happen to fax, land mail, overnight mail, etc. according to the writer? Less and less people will use them.
Eiffel Is an Eyeful 引人注目的埃菲尔铁塔
1. Why does the author think the Eiffel Tower is transformed into symbol of a world on the move? Tourists of all nationalities come to scribble on the cold iron of the tower.
2. What seems strange to the author? Visitors prefer wasting time scribbling to enjoying the view.
3. Which statement is NOT true of Hugues Richard? He climbed 747 steps up the tower in 19 minutes and 4 seconds.
4. What did the builder use the Eiffel Tower for? Conducting research in various fields.
5. Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “(The Eiffel Tower is like) a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will”? Visitors can imagine freely what the tower represents.
Ebbysemeyer-King of Currents 埃比赛米尔-洋流之王
1. What happened to those hockey gloves that fell overboard? Some of them reached shore at last.
2. Why does Ebbysemeyer study ocean currents? For pragmatic purposes.
3. All the factors that affect ocean currents are discussed in the passage EXCEPT gravitational force.
4. What creates deep ocean currents? Low temperatures near the two Poles.
5. What does the example of a Nike sneaker given in the last paragraph indicate? Sometimes, objects may drift in the ocean for years.
Eat to Live 为生活而食
1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? We have to begin dieting since childhood.
2. Why does the author mention an elderly mouse in paragraph 2? To illustrate the effect of meager food on mice.
3. What can be inferred about completely normally fed mice mentioned in the passage? They are more likely to suffer from inflammation.
4. According to the author, which of the following most interested the researchers? The mice that started dieting in old age.
5. According to the last two paragraphs, Spindler believes that dieting is not a good method to give us health and long life.
Egypt Felled by Famine 埃及饱受饥荒折磨
1. Why does the author mention “pyramid builders”? Because even they were unable to rescue their civilization.
2. Which of the following factors was ultimately responsible for the fall of the civilization of ancient Egypt? Change of climate.
3. Which of the following statements is true? The White Nile and the Blue Nile are branches of the River Nile.
4. According to Krom, Egypt’s Old Kingdom fell immediately after a period of drought.
5. The word “devastating” in the paragraph could be best replaced by “damaging”.
Food Fright 食物的危险
1. Paragraphs 1,2 &3 try to give the idea that GM foods may bring about great benefits to humans.
2. Why is the case of the pollen-sprayed milkweed cited in Paragraph6? It is cited to show GM foods also have a dark side.
3. What happens to those insects when not killed by the spray of insecticide? They may have higher ability to adapt to the environment.
4. Which of the following statements concerning banning GM foods is true according to the passage? The United States has not banned GM foods.
5. What is the writer’s attitude to GM foods? We cannot tell from the passage.
Florida Hit by Cold Air Mass 弗罗里达遭受冷气团袭击
1. Which of the following statements is not meant in the first two paragraphs? The temperature in the United States except the South dropped below the freezing mark.
2. According to the second paragraph, in which area(s) did the temperature fall below zero? Parts of interior South Florida.
3. King’s statement that “We brought shorts, T-shirt, and I had to go out and buy another coat.” shows that he was caught by the sudden cold.
4. Governor Jeb issue the emergency order because he wanted to encourage trucks to transport as much fruit to market as possible.
5. Which statement is NOT true according to the last paragraph? Florida Citrus Mutual sprayed trees with sprinklers for citrus growers.
Forecasting Methods 天气预报的方法
1. What factor is NOT mentioned in choosing a forecasting method? Imagination of the forecaster.
2. Persistence method will work well if weather conditions do not change much.
3. The limitation of the trends method is the same as the persistence method in that the weather features need to be constant for a long period of time.
4. Which method may involve historical weather data? Both climatology method and analog method.
5. It will be impossible to make weather forecast using the analog method when the current weather scenario differs from the analog.
How Animals Keep Warm 动物怎样保暖
1. How does the dormouse defend itself against cold in winter? It sleeps continuously.
2. What keeps animals alive during hibernation? The fat stored in their bodies.
3. During hibernation, animals breathe at a slower rate.
4. According to the passage, what is “migration”? Moving from one place to another with the season.
5. How do ermines survive in winter? They stay in their burrows and live on the food stored there.
Hacking 黑客
1. People usually regard computers as isolated or personal machines.
2. Why does the writer mention “a thief” in the second paragraph? To show that a hacker is more dangerous than a thief.
3. According to the passage, all the damages listed below could be done by a hacker EXCEPT creating many electronic-age terms.
4. By saying “Now exists the possibility of terrorism by computer”, the writer means that some people may spread fear in public by destroying computer systems.
5. The main reason why business or government has not taken tough measures to stop hacking is that communication may be interrupted.
Japanese Drilling into Core of Earth 日本人的地心旅行
1. According to the passage, Mount Unzen erupted in 1991.
2. According to the passage, the study of the Mount Unzen volcano may benefit Japan in all the following aspects EXCETP predicting volcano eruptions.
3. Why is this research project so important to Japan? Because Japan has many living volcanoes.
4. The drilling site on Mount Unzen is about half way up the mountain.
5. The title of this passage Japanese Drilling into Core of Earth actually means that they drill a hole into the core of a volcano.
Kasparov: Chess Computers Beatable… For Now 电脑下国际象棋是可以被打败的。。。到目前为止
1. According to Kasparov, humans can beat computers in individual games.
2. In the contest with Deep Junior in the United States, Kasparov settled for a draw.
3. Which of the following statements is true about Kasparov’s contest with Deep Blue in 1997? Kasparov was unwilling to admit his defeat by Deep Blue.
4. According to Kasparov, a human vs machine chess game may involve all the following qualities EXCEPT that it creates an exchange of errors between man and machine.
5. Kasparov’s remarks on his 1997 defeat imply that if the had made no blunders, he should have beaten Deep Blue.
Late-night Drinking 在深夜饮咖啡
1. The author mentions “pick-me-up” to indicate that coffee is a stimulant.
2. Which of the following tells us how caffeine affects sleep? Caffeine halves the body’s levels of sleep hormone.
3. What does paragraph 3 mainly discuss? Different effects of caffeinated coffee and decaf on sleep.
4. What does the experiment mentioned in paragraph 4 prove? Caffeine drinkers produce less sleep hormone.
5. The author of this passage probably agrees that we should not drink coffee after supper.
Male and Female Pilots Cause Accidents Differently 男女飞行员引起飞行事故的差异
1. What is the research at Johns Hopkins University about? Gender difference in relation to types of aircraft crashes.
2. Which of the statements is NOT true according to the second paragraph? Only mature pilots are studied to determine the gender differences in the reasons for aircraft crash.
3. How did the researchers carry out their study? They studied the findings of several previous research projects.
4. What is the most common circumstance of crash with female pilots? Loss of control on landing or takeoff and stalling.
5. In the comparison of female and male pilots, male pilots are found to make more errors in decision-making.
Orbital Space Plane 轨道航天飞机
1. The orbital space craft has been designed for carrying astronauts to the International Space Station.
2. From the passage we know that the design of the orbiter indicates NASA’s determination to continue its space exploration projects.
3. When did the scientists start working on a successor to the shuttle? Years before the explosion of Columbia.
4. Besides the main missions stipulated by NASA, the orbiter would also be used as a space ambulance.
5. According to the passage, the funds, if granted, would be equally shared by the two projects under Space Launch Initiative.
Powering a City? It’s a Breeze 风力发电轻而易举
1. What are the symbols of Netherlands according to the first paragraph? Wooden shoes and wooden windmills.
2. Which statement is best describes the urban turbine mentioned in the second paragraph? It is a high-tech machine designed to generate energy for urban people.
3. The smallest models of an urban turbine can be carried up to the rooftop without a crane.
4. Netherlands leads in the urban turbine technology because Netherlands is a small country with a large population.
5. According to the last paragraph, what are the advantages of wind power technology? Both A and C. (A: It can be used for different purposes. C: It can be installed in one’s backyard.)
Prolonging Human Life延长人类生命
1. The writer believes that the population explosion results from a decrease in death rates.
2. It can be inferred from the passage that in hunting and gathering cultures infants could be left dead in times of starvation.
3. According to the passage, which of the following statements about retired people in the United States is true? Many of them have a very hard life.
4. In Paragraph 3, the phrase “this need” refers to the need to take care of sick and weak people.
5. Which of the following best describes the writer’s attitude toward most of the nursing homes, and convalescent hospitals? Critical.
Pool Watch 泳池监护
1. AI means the same as artificial intelligence.
2. What is required of AI software to save a life? It can distinguish between a swimmer and a shadow.
3. How does Poseidon save a life? It alerts the lifeguard.
4. Which of the following statements about Travor Baylis is NOT true? He runs.
5. The word “considered” in paragraph 5 could be best replaced by rated.
Retinal Prosthesis Help the Blind Regain Eyesight 视网膜修复术帮助盲人重获光明
1. Why did Steve Wonder visit Mark Humayan? He thought Mark’s device might recover his eyesight.
2. Whom is Mark’s retinal prosthesis ready for? For the blind who once had eyesight.
3. For detecting colors, we depend, in the first place, on cones of the retina.
4. Why does macular degeneration cause blindness and other vision problems? Macular degeneration causes inadequate supply of blood in the retina.
5. Which of the following statements about the function of retinal prosthesis is true according to the passage? It can help recover eyesight to some degree.
Pushbike Peril 脚踏车的危险
1. According to the passage, some engineers are trying to improve the handlebars because they may kill children.
2. In paragraph 2, the author mentions a study of serious abdominal injuries to tell us why Kristy Arbogast began the project.
3. Paragraph 3 mainly discusses how serious injuries occur.
4. The passage implies that it is not easy to persuade manufacturers to adopt the new design.
5. The handgrip works in which of the following ways? It reduces the dangerous forces in bicycle accidents.
Superconducting Ceramic 超导陶瓷
1. What are the benefits of the revolution mentioned in the first paragraph? Great amounts of power can be conserved.
2. What is the difference between superconductors and common electrical conductors? Superconductors have much lower electrical resistance than common electrical conductors.
3. How low is the temperature for a superconducting material to lose its resistance now? –143 degree Celsius.
4. What is the element that enables the ceramic tape to lower its temperature? Liquid nitrogen.
5. According to the last paragraph, what is NOT true of superconductors? The United States loses great amounts of electricity using superconductors.
Snowflakes 雪花
1. What does professor Libbrecht believe to be true? No two snowflakes are exactly the same in shape.
2. What do the simplest snow crystals look like? They are six-sided.
3. What are the factors that affect the shape and growth rate of a snow crystal? Humidity and temperature.
4. It can be felt from the description in the 2nd paragraph that the author admires the beauty of the snowflakes.
5. Libbrecht is not able to create snowflakes that are exactly alike.
Spacing in Animals 动物的间隔距离
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate definition of Flight Distance? Distance between an animal and its enemy before fleeing.
2. If an animal’s critical distance is penetrated, it will begin to attack.
3. According to the passage, social distance refers to psychological distance.
4. Social distance differs among animal species.
5. The example of the children holding hands when crossing the street in the last paragraph shows that social distance is sometimes determined by outside factors.
Sauna 桑拿浴
1. Ceremonial bathing has various forms.
2. What is understood by some people to be the true sauna experience? Saunas with smoke.
3. According to the third paragraph, saunas can do all of the following EXCEPT curing asthma.
4. According to the fourth paragraph, sauna gives the skin a healthy glow because pores are cleaned by sweat.
5. Who are advised not to take a sauna? All of the above.
Shrinking Water Supply Poses Threat to Peace供水紧张对和平构成威胁
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? Water now has become more expensive than it was.
2. Which of the following is NOT the author’s purpose of mentioning the oil crises in the 1970’s? To prove that water is as expensive as oil.
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a factor that is making the water situation in the world more and more severe? The popularity of swimming pools.
4. Which of the following is cited by the author as the place where the supply of water is most likely to threaten social stability? Africa.
5. To solve the water supply problem the world today faces, the author suggests at the end of the article doing all the following except blowing up dams that affect the supply of fresh water.
Sleep Lets Brain File Memories 睡眠促使记忆归档存储
1. Which of the following statements is nearest in meaning to the sentence “To sleep. Perchance to file?”? Does brain arrange memories in useful order during sleep?
2. What is the result of the experiment with rats and mice carried out at Rutgers University? Somatosensory neocortex and hippocampus work together in memory consolidation.
3. What is the relation of memory to glucose tolerance, as is indicated by a research mentioned in paragraph 4? The poorer the memory, the poorer glucose tolerance.
4. In what way is memory related to hippocampus shrinkage? The more hippocampus shrinks, the poorer one’s memory.
5. According to the last paragraph, what is the ultimate reason for going to the gym? To control glucose levels.
Single-parent Kinds Do Best 单亲家庭的孩子表现最佳
1. With which of the following statements would the author probably agree? Two-parent families produce less attractive children.
2. According to the passage, in what way does family conflict affect the quality of the offspring? The young males get less care.
3. What is the relationship between paragraph 4 and paragraph 5? Experiment and result.
4. According to Hartley, which of the following is NOT influenced by sexual conflict? The offspring’s body size.
5. According to the passage, people believe that a female’s reproductive strategy is influenced by ecological factors.
Star Quality 明显的素质
1. Which of the following was the final result of the pairs figure-skating event at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? The Russian pair and the Canadian pair were each awarded a gold medal.
2. According to the new rules proposed by the ISU, only half of the scores will count.
3. What does Jerry Bingham express by saying “I remain to be convinced”? His doubt.
4. Which of the following is NOT true of the scoring system for diving when it is compared with that for ice-skating? It is more biased.
5. The attitude of those concerned in the UK to the new rules proposed by ISU can be best described as reserved.
The Net Cost of Making a Name for Yourself 网上申请个人域名的费用
1. The domain name “.edu”is operated by the company Network Solutions.
2. The .firm, shop, .web, .arts, .rec, .info and .nom domains are NOT run by the US government.
3. Global Names of Singapore is a registrar.
4. How can a company successfully register a name with the Internet? It must pay up to $10,000 or a nonrefundable deposit.
5. What is the meaning of the phrases “net cost”in the title? The registration fee for a domain name on the Internet.
Thirsty in Karachi 在卡拉奇体验干渴
1. According to the passage, people in Karachi today suffer from a short supply of water because old networks can not meet the need of the city’s greatly-increased population.
2. Now people in Karachi do not hide or disguise the suction pumps they use to steal water because many households have them and there are very few inspectors around to try to find them.
3. Confronted with a severe shortage of water supply, the city’s Water and Sewerage Board tries to improve the water supply system with borrowed money.
4. Which of the following true of the owners of the suction pumps, if their neighbors gave equally powerful pumps as they do? They only pay more for electricity.
5. Which of the following is true about the author when he is back home in London? He is content with the water supply in London.
The Wasteland 荒地
1. All of the following are causes of the environmental crisis in Afghanistan EXCEPT heavy monsoon rains.
2. According to the passage, the main cause of the loss of the country’s forests is the improper use of the trees for benefits during Taliban rule.
3. Most of the migratory birds no longer fly across Afghanistan to Pakistan and India because they have been threatened by the bombs dropped on the country.
4. In which of the following ways do the refugees threaten the survival of such wild animals as the snow leopards? They hunt the animals to make profits.
5. Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the last paragraph? Fewer people were killed in bombing in Afghanistan than in Kosovo.
The Gene Industry 基因产业
1. According to the passage, the exhaust from a car engine could probably be checked by making use of enzymes.
2. According to the passage, which of the following would worry the critics the most? The unexpected release of destructive microbes.
3. Which of the following notions is NOT mentioned? Using genetic forecasting to cure diseases.
4. According to the passage, Hitler attempted to kill the people he thought of as inferior.
5. What does Jeremy Rifkin and Ted Howard’s statement imply? The commercial applications of genetic engineering are inevitable.