"The world's oceans are slowly getting more acidic,”say scientists. The researchers from California report that the change is taking place in response to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The lowering of the waters’pH value is not great at the moment but could cause a serious threat to current ocean life if it continues, they warn. Ken Caldeira and Michael Wickett, from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, report their concerns in the journal Nature.
Increasing use of oil fuels means more carbon dioxide is going into the air, and most of it will eventually be absorbed by seawater. Once in the water, it reacts to form carbonic acid. Scientists believe that the oceans have already become slightly more acidic over the last century.
These researchers have tried to predict what will happen in the future by combining what we know about the history of the oceans with computer models of climate change."This level of acidity will get much more extreme in the future if we continue releasing CO2 into the atmosphere," said Dr Caldeira. "And we predict the amount of future acidity will exceed(超過(guò))anything we have seen over the last several hundred million years, let alone perhaps after rare disastrous events such as asteroid(小行星) impacts.”
However, it is not absolutely clear what that means for ocean life.Most organisms live near the surface, where the greatest pH change would be expected to occur, but deep-ocean life forms may be more sensitive to pH changes.Coral reefs and other organisms whose shells contain calcium carbonate(小行星) may be particularly affected if the water's acidity levels keep going up, the team predict. They could find it much more difficult to build these structures in water with a lower pH.
In recent years some people have suggested storing carbon dioxide from power stations in the deep ocean as a way of dealing with global warming.But Dr Caldeira said that such a strategy should now be re-considered. "Previously, most experts had looked at ocean absorption of carbon dioxide as a good thing-because in releasing CO2 into the atmosphere we warm the planet, and when CO2, is absorbed by the ocean, it reduces the amount of greenhouse warming.”
小題1:According to Dr Caldeira,__________ .
A.ocean absorption of carbon dioxide is a good thing
B.more oil fuels will be used in the near future
C.scientists may predict climate changes with computer models
D.the future situation of the amount of acidity is extremely serious
小題2:f the water's acidity level keeps rising,_________ .
A.ocean life whose structures contain calcium carbonate may be affected
B.the waters’pH value will become higher and higher
C.organisms living near the surface are more sensitive to pH changes
D.some disastrous events will occur more often than before
小題3:Most experts once believed storing carbon dioxide in the ocean would reduce________ .
A.the CO2 absorbed by the oceanB.the amount of greenhouse warming
C.the acidity of the oceanD.the gradual release of CO2
小題4:The purpose of this passage is to_________ .
A.show people the findings of a research teamB.inform people of how acid the ocean is now
C.introduce Dr Caldeira and his team's researchD.warn people of the higher level of CO2

小題1:D
小題2:A
小題3:B
小題4:D

小題1:綜合信息處理題。本文是一篇關(guān)于科技和環(huán)境的報(bào)告,中心為“ 由于CO2在空氣中的增加,海洋中的酸性將越來(lái)越大”。
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)理解題。從文章中找the water’s acidity level keeps rising的字眼。最后,從第四段的倒數(shù)第二句獲得支持。
小題3:細(xì)節(jié)理解題。從storing carbon dioxide from power stations in the deep ocean入手。在最后一段第一句可以獲得信息。
小題4:理解作者的意圖和觀點(diǎn)。綜合全文信息,在展示Dr Caldeira和他的team對(duì)二氧化碳酸性、pH值、溫室效應(yīng)等相
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami(海嘯), adding weight to ideas they possess a “sixth sense” for disasters, experts said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island’s coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.
“No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening,” H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department, said on Wednesday.
The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the southeast, Sri Lanka’s biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants. “There has been a lot of evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven,” said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.
“There have been no specific studies because you can’t really test it in a lab or field setting,” he said.
Other authorities agreed with this conclusion.
“Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds. There are many reports of birds detecting coming disasters,” said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.
Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators(食肉動(dòng)物).
The idea of an animal “sixth sense” is a lasting one that the evidence on Sri Lanka’s damaged coast is likely to add to.
小題1:This passage is mainly about________.
A.the damage that was caused in the Indian Ocean tsunami
B.why animals can save them from natural disasters
C.how to protect the wildlife when disaster happens
D.the different opinions about animals’ natural power
小題2:Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.It has been proved that animals have a “sixth sense”.
B.Research has been made on the special movements of animals before disasters.
C.It’s generally considered that animals can sense the coming of disasters.
D.Animals have depended on the known senses to escape the Indian Ocean tsunami.
小題3:What does the term “sixth sense” in the text means?
A.It is the natural ability of animals that can save them from danger.
B.It is the animal’s imagination in the brain.
C.It is some hidden power to say in advance that something will happen.
D.It is a kind of sense that is the same as smell or hearing.
小題4:Which section does the text most probably appear in a newspaper?
A.News Report.B.Discovery.C.Science Fiction.D.Culture.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Can you imagine being savagely attacked by a dog? What if the attack was so severe that your nose, lips and chin were completely destroyed? How would you feel about yourself? Would you be able to look at yourself in the mirror? And how do you think other people would treat you?
Isabelle Dinoire is someone who can answer all of these questions honestly and openly.
Last November Isabelle was attacked and mauled by her own dog. The attack was so severe that her lower face was damaged; it seemed, almost beyond repair. She was rushed to hospital and became the first person ever to have a face transplant.
With such severe injuries doctors offered Isabelle little hope that they would be able to repair the damage to her face using conventional surgery.
Shortly after being admitted, she came to the attention of Dr Bernard Devauchelle who, unlike other surgeons, believed there was an alternative: "We found ourselves saying, yes, it's clear this woman needs a transplant," he said.
Two days after the operation she saw her face in the mirror for the first time. She said "I was scared to look at myself, but when I did it was already marvelous and I couldn't believe it. I thought it would be blue and swollen but it was already beautiful."
Now, less than a year after her 15 hour operation, she’s trying to rebuild her life and there is no doubt how she feels about her new face: "I have been saved. Lots of people write saying that I need to go on, that it's wonderful. It's a miracle somehow."
Although there were ethical questions raised about their decision to carry out the procedure, the doctors who operated on Isabelle are quick to defend their decision.
One of them said "Was it possible for her to live without a face? It's easy to say we shouldn't have done the operation, but her life has changed, she goes shopping, goes on holiday, she lives again."
小題1: What would be the best title of the passage?
A.The first face transplantB.A successful face operation
C.The most severe damaged faceD.The breakthrough of surgery
小題2: The writer uses the five questions at the beginning of the passage to ___________________.
A.tell the story about Isabelle DinoireB.show a severe face damage event
C.draw the readers’ attention to the topicD.invite the readers to answer them
小題3: It can be concluded from Isabelle Dinoire’s remarks that___________________.
A.she was too shocked to see herself in the mirror
B.she was satisfied with the result of the operation
C.she thought her damaged face couldn’t be repaired
D.she looked more beautiful than before
小題4: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A.It seemed that it was impossible to recover Isabelle’s face using face transplant
B.After operation Isabelle thought she looked beautiful and rebuilt her life again
C.Some doctors had no better idea to repair the damage to Isabelle’s face
D.It was Dr Bernard Devauchelle who came up with the idea of face transplant

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Although man has known asbestos for many hundreds of years, it was not until 160 years ago that it was mined for the first time on the North American continent. H. W. Johns, owner of a New York City Supply Shop for roofers, was responsible for(對(duì)…負(fù)責(zé)) the opening of that first mine.
Mr. Johns was given a piece of asbestos which had been found in Italy. He experimented with the material and then showed its surprising powers to his customers. After putting on a pair of asbestos gloves, which looked much like ordinary work gloves, he took red-hot coals from the fireplace and played with them in his hands. How astonished the customers were to discover that he was not burned at all. You can well imagine that he had increasing business in asbestos roofing materials. However, because it was very expensive to transport (carry) them from Italy to the United States, Mr. Johns sent out a young scientist to seek a source nearer home. This young man found great vein(巖脈), in the province of Quebec in Canada.
Ever since 1881 Quebec has led the world in the production of this unusual mineral, which is made up of magnesium, silicon, iron, and oxygen. When it is mined, the asbestos is heavy, just as you would expect a mineral to be. When it is separated, a strange thing happens; the rock breaks down into fine, soft, soapy fibres(纖維).
Scientists do not know why the rock can be separated easily into threads(線), but they have found thousands of uses of this fireproof material, of the so-called “cloth of stone”.
小題1:Which title best expresses the main idea of this passage?
A.Asbestos mined in CanadaB.Fireproof matter
C.A “wonder” mineralD.A new roofing material
小題2:Johns proved his ability as a salesman by_______.
A.going into roofing businessB.carrying asbestos from Italy
C.sending a trained scientistD.showing the use of asbestos gloves
小題3:Which is the most important character of asbestos that the author wants to show us?
A.It is like thread.B.It feels soapy.
C.It burns easily.D.It is unusually heavy.
小題4:The author’s main purpose in writing this passage was to _______.
A.show the need for more scientists
B.compare asbestos with other minerals
C.increase the sales of asbestos
D.present facts about asbestos

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia(癡呆) in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones(荷爾蒙) , U.S. reseachers reported on Thursday.
Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s(早老癡呆癥). University of Richmond psychology professor Craig Kinsley believes his findings will translate into humans.
“Our research shows that the hormones of pregnancy(懷孕) are protecting the brain, including estrogen(雌激素), which we know has many neuroprotective (保護(hù)神經(jīng)的) effects,” Kinsley said.  
“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals,” he added in a telephone interview. “They go through pregnancy and hormonal changes.”
Kinsley said he hoped public health officials and researchers will look to see if having had children protects a woman from Alzheimer’s and other forms of age-related brain decline.
“When people think about pregnancy, they think about what happens to babies and the mother from the neck down,” said Kinsley, who presented his findings to the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Orlando, Florida.
“They do not realize that hormones are washing on the brain. If you look at female animals who have never gone through pregnancy, they act differently toward young. But if she goes through pregnancy, she will sacrifice her life for her infant—that is a great change in her behavior that showed in genetic alterations(改變) to the brain.”
小題1: How do scientists know “Motherhood may make women smarter”?
A.Some researchers have told them.
B.Many women say so.
C.They know it by experimenting on rats.
D.They know it through their own experience.
小題2: What does the phrase “l(fā)itters of pups” mean in the second paragraph?
A.Baby rats.B.Animals.C.Old rats.D.Grown-up rats.
小題3:What can protect the brain of a woman according to the passage?
A.Estrogen.B.The hormones of pregnancy.
C.More exercise.D.Taking care of children.
小題4:“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals.” What does the sentence suggest?
A.The experiments on the rats have nothing to do with humans.
B.The experiments on the rats are very important for animals.
C.The experiments on the rats are much the same on humans.
D.The experiments on the rats are much the same on other animals.
小題5:Which title is the best for this passage?
A.Do You Want to Be Smarter?
B.Motherhood Makes Women Smarter
C.Mysterious Hormones
D.An Important Study

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children’s curiosity(好奇). Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a job. The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary(薪水) and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence. Finally I said, “Now that we’re finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?”
After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, “Have you ever seen a grasshopper(蚱蜢) eat? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache. Why?”
This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours.
Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children give more logical(符合邏輯的), complete and creative answers.
Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “Very good”. These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior(行為). But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep things going by saying “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that way before”, or coming up with more questions or ideas.
Never push a child to “Think”. It doesn’t make sense, children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What’s more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target(目標(biāo)) for your disagreement.
Lastly, show; don’t tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass(放大鏡), and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates(蒸發(fā)), set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.
小題1:According to the passage, children are natural scientists, and to raise their interest, the most important thing for adults to do is _______.
A.to let them see the world around
B.to share the children’s curiosity
C.to explain difficult phrases about science
D.to supply the children with lab equipment
小題2:In the last sentence of the first paragraph, the word “l(fā)ists” could best be replaced by ______.
A.a(chǎn)ny questionsB.a(chǎn)ny problems
C.questions from textbooksD.a(chǎn)ny number of questions
小題3:According to the passage, children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults ________.
A.a(chǎn)sk them to answer quickly
B.wait for one or two seconds after a question
C.tell them to answer the next day
D.wait at least for three seconds after a question
小題4:In which of the following paragraph(s) does the author tell us what to say to encourage children in a science discussion?
A.The second and third. B.The fourth and fifth.
C.The fifth and sixth. D.The seventh.
小題5:The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity except that adults should ________.
A.tell their children stories instead of reciting(背誦) facts
B.offer their children chances to see things for themselves
C.be patient enough when their children answer questions
D.encourage their children to ask questions of their own

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:完形填空

完形填空(共20小題;每小題1.5分,滿分30分)閱讀下面短文,掌握其大意,然后從1—20題各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)(A、B、C和D)中,選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。
While attending a conference, I returned to my hotel room late one evening. The overhead light outside my door was burned out and I had  1  finding the keyhole. When I  2  to open the door, I  3  around the wall for a light switch. I found a plate where a switch was  4  installed... but no switch! 
Not discouraged easily, I remembered  5  a lamp by the bed when I deposited my luggage  6  in the day. I found the bed in the  7  and then the lamp, but when I switched it on, nothing  8 ! I thought that perhaps if I opened the curtains I might be able to use whatever light comes in from the  9  to find another lamp. So I  10  my way slowly across the room to the curtains and... no drawstring! I finally stumbled(跌跌撞撞地走)around  11  I found a desk lamp which actually  12 !
That evening I discovered in a whole new way just how dark the world  13  be and how   necessary light is! But even more necessary than  14  light is the light that shines from people --the light of  15  and faith. Because, for many people, the world is a dark and  16  place. For someone today just may be stumbling in discouragement or sadness or fear and in  17   of some light. So let your light shine. Whatever light you  18  may be a beacon of hope and encouragement. And if you feel that your light is  19  a candle in a forest remember -- there isn’t enough darkness in all the world to  20  the light of one small candle.
1. A. confidence  B. respect           C. adimiration      D. difficulty 
2. A. managed            B. failed              C. wished           D. meant
3. A. touched              B. felt                 C. sensed            D. looked  
4. A. already               B. never              C. still                 D. once 
5. A. equiping             B. producing       C. spotting          D. removing
6. A. later                  B. earlier             C. lower             D. upper
7. A. light           B. dark               C. room              D. corner 
8. A. happened            B. operated         C. fired                 D. developed
9. A. machine             B. street              C. room             D. car
10. A. wound             B. forced            C. made              D. lost
11. A. after                   B. until         C. while                D. since
12. A. helped              B. affected                C. worked           D. inspired 
13. A. can                  B. shall               C. will               D. must
14. A. mental              B. psychological     C. electrical        D. physical  
15. A. existence          B. love                C. truth                D. wisdom
16. A. lonely                 B. colourful           C. friendly            D. complex
17. A. short                B. favour            C. face                      D. need   
18. A. make                B. offer               C. take                D. contribute
19. A. not more than   B. other than       C. no more than   D. rather than 
20. A. put out             B. give out          C. get over                D. set up

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

A new study finds that the animal known as man’s best friend can also be a good friend to the heart. Researchers in California say they have found that even just a short visit with a dog helped ease the worries of heart patients.               
The study divided the patients into three groups. In Group A, a dog and a person visited each patient for twelve minutes. Patients in Group B received just a human visitor for twelve minutes. And members of Group C received no visitor, human or canine(犬的).
The dogs would lie on the hospital bed so the heart patients could touch them. The researchers say some patients immediately smiled and talked to the dog and the human visitor. Dogs, in her words, “make people happier, calmer and feel more loved.”
The researchers examined the patients before, during and after the visits. They measured stress levels based on blood flow and heart activity. They say they found a twenty-four percent decrease in the group visited by both a dog and a person. They reported a ten percent decrease in the group visited by a person only. There was no change in the patients without any visit. These patients, however, did have an increase in their production of the hormone epinephrine (epinephrine腎上腺素). The body produces epinephrine during times of stress.
The increase was an average of seven percent. But the study found that patients who spent time with a dog had a seventeen percent drop in their levels of epinephrine. Patients visited by a human but not a dog also had a decrease, but only two percent.
小題1:The author believes that _______.  
A.the dog can take the place of most medicines
B.the dog is the most popular pet for man
C.the findings of the research cannot be trusted
D.visits by a human work better than visits by a dog
小題2:Which of the following best shows the stress level changes in the groups of patients? BACC

小題3:From the research findings we may conclude that _______.
A.the less the body produces epinephrine, the better
B.the longer a visit lasts, the happier the patient should be
C.the patients enjoyed the dogs’ company more than the human visitors’
D.it’s impossible for heart patients to recover without dogs’ visits
小題4:Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Worried Heart PatientsB.Epinephrine and Stress
C.Good Friend to the HeartD.Three Groups of Patients

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

London——Laura Spence has excellent grades, a place at Harvard University and a US $25,000 a year scholarship. The British Government says that is scandal(丑聞).  
Not because the 13-year-old girl is going to Harvard, but because she was rejected by Oxford University. Her case makes people talk about the long-running problems about elitism(精英主義) in British education.
“I think it’s a scandal if a child has to go to Harvard rather than getting into Oxford, don’t you?” Education Secretary David Blunkett said on May 26th in an interview on BBC radio.
British Treasury chief Gordon Brown said in a speech on May 25th it was “an absolute scandal”, a girl with those grades was turned down by Oxford’s Magdalen College. He noted that Spence comes from Monkseaton in northeastern England, where people sometimes complain they get fewer chances than people living in the richer, more populous south.
Oxford and Cambridge University now take the majority of their students—53 percent—from publicly funded schools. Elite(精英)private schools such as Eton and Harrow account for the other 47 percent, even though they serve only 7 percent of secondary students.
A BBC reporter had seen notes of Spence’s interview at Magdalen. “As with other comprehensive school pupils, she’s low in confidence and difficult to draw out of herself in spite of being able to think on her feet,” the BBC quoted the notes as saying. Still, the notes concluded that Spence “will be an excellent doctor.”
“It appears as if some of our institutions have admissions procedures which may be because of absurd prejudices against children from comprehensive schools…are not giving these children a fair crack of the whip”, Education Minister Wicks told the BBC.
5.Laura Spence was rejected by Oxford University because.
A.she was a girl of 13 years old       B.she lacked confidence and she couldn’t think by herself
C.she didn’t win excellent grades
D.she was a shy girl from a comprehensive school in the poorer, less populous north
6.If Laura Spence was from such a school as Eton,.
A.she would be admitted to Oxford    B.she would be accepted by Harvard
C.she could cause long?running problems about elitism in British education
D.she wouldn’t be an excellent doctor
7.What’s the meaning of “a fair crack of the whip”in the last paragraph?
A.A good chance.        B.Warning.           C.Rejection.             D.Admission
8.According to Education Minister Wick’s words, we know he .
A.thought there was something wrong with procedures of admissions to their institutes
B.took the side of Oxford University
C.considered giving up children from comprehensive schools   D.didn’t tell the truth to the BBC

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