ERATH WEEK---A DIARY OF THE PLANET
Enduring Storms
Several more rounds of severe storms, tornadoes and flash flooding struck many parts of the American Midwest and Northeast as bad weather continued across the US for a second month.   

Monsoon Storms
A south-west monsoon has caused havoc in parts of Sri Lanka. Government meteorologists said that unexpected monsoonal winds blew directly across the country from the Southern Hemisphere at about 100km/h, producing several rounds of stormy weather. Nearly 250 houses in the capital Colombo were damaged.
Mt. Etna Erupts
Sicily’s Mount Etna volcano erupted shortly after midnight on July 1, shooting “bombs” of lava nearly 1.5 meters in diameter on the eastern side of the mountain. The 30-minute eruption could be seen for several miles, but did not threaten any nearby villages.
Hurricane
Hurricane Blas lost strength as it moved over cooler waters in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Mexico. Blas formed off southwest Mexico during the previous week, but squalls on the outer fringes of the storm lashed western Michoacan State, killing four people when their wood and cardboard home collapsed.
Monkey Repellent
After years of unsuccessful attempts to keep crop-eating monkeys out of Japanese fields, a Tokyo research team believes that it may have finally found a way to prevent the damage caused by the monkeys. Animal raids on crops were successfully prevented by shooting chilli powder into the air, irritating the eyes and noses of monkeys that passed in front of carefully-placed warning sensors. “We’ve tried al kinds of preventive measures, but the monkeys are smart enough to outwit the tricks, “said Toshiaki Wada, Director of the Tokyo Forestry Experiment Station in western Tokyo.
小題1:.
. According to the information, which of the following statements is TURE?
A. The eruption of Mt. Etna lasted thirty days.
B. Hurricane Blas was formed off the coast of Italy.
C. The American Midwest had fine weather throughout July 1998.
The eruption of Mt. Etna did not destroy local villages.
小題2:.
. According to the information, the monkeys in the Japanese fields ________.
A．destroy cropsB．kill unsuspecting humans
C．spread eye diseases to humansD．stop farmers from working
小題3:.
. The information in the “Earth Week” diary _______.
A．predicts future weather patterns
B．gives advice on dealing with monsoons
C．shows that weather can be unpredictable
D．shows the effects that storms have on animals

小題1:.D            
小題1:.A
小題1:.C
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Any observant person has noticed that a wild animal will allow a man or other potential enemy to approach only up to a given distance before it flees. “Flight distance” is the term used for this interspecies spacing. As a general rule, there is a positive relationship between the size of an animal and its flight distance—the larger the animal, the greater the distance it must keep between itself and the enemy. An antelope will flee when the enemy is as much as five hundred yards away. The wall lizard’s(壁虎) flight distance, on the other hand, is about six feet. Flight is the basic means of survival for mobile creatures.
　 Critical distance apparently is present wherever and whenever there is a flight reaction. “Critical distance” includes the narrow zone separating flight distance from attack distance. A lion in a zoo will flee from an approaching man until it meets a barrier that it cannot overcome. If the man continues the approach, he soon penetrates(進入) the lion’s critical distance, at which point the cornered lion turns back and begins slowly to stalk (逼近) the man.
　 Social animals need to stay in touch with each other. Loss of contact with the group can be fatal(致命的) for a variety of reasons including exposure to enemies. Social distance is not simply the distance at which an animal will lose contact with his group—that is, the distance at which it can no longer see, hear, or smell the group—it is rather a psychological distance, one at which the animal apparently begins to feel anxious when it goes beyond its limits.
Social distance is not always rigidly(刻板的) fixed but is determined in part by the situation. When the young of apes and humans are mobile but not yet under control of the mother’s voice, social distance may be the length of her reach. When added control is needed because of danger, social distance shortens. To show this in man, one has only to watch a family with a number of small children holding hands as they cross a busy street.
小題1:.
Which of the following is the correct explanation of “Flight Distance” in paragraph 1?
A．Distance between animals of the same species before fleeing.
B．Distance between large and small animals before fleeing.
C．Distance between an animal and its enemy before fleeing.
D．Distance between certain animal species before fleeing.
小題2:.
If a lion’s critical distance is penetrated, it will __________.
A．begin to attack.
B．try to hide.
C．begin to jump.
D．run away.
小題3:.
. The example of “children holding hands when crossing the street” in the last paragraph shows that ________.
A．social distance is not always needed.
B．there is no social distance among small children.
C．humans are different from animals in social distance.
D．social distance is sometimes determined by outside factors.
小題4:.
. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A．Critical Distance
B．Social Distance
C．Relationship Between Animals
D．Spacing in Animals

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

  Drawings of human colonies on other planets often picture the entire community under a glass or plastic bubble. The bubble is intended to create an atmosphere with adequate oxygen and other essential elements. But similar bubble-like structures have also been constructed on earth. One of the most famous, and controversial, is a site in the Arizona desert.
Biosphere 2, as it is called, was built not far from Tucson in 1984 and is now run by Columbia University. This huge（7,200,000-cubic-foot）glass and steel construction contains several separate ecosystems, including a desert, a rain forest, and a 900,000-gallon “ocean.” The climatic conditions-humidity, temperature, air quality-are regulated by sensors and can be adjusted as needed or desired. For example, a rainstorm can be created to increase the humidity. The adjustable features of Biosphere 2 make it an ideal location to perform experiments to help determine the effects of such climatic changes as global warming.
The current conditions at Biosphere 2 are vastly different from those in 1993, when eight people who had moved into the environment with great fanfare two years earlier moved out in failure. Though promising to be self-sufficient（自足的）, these “colonists” had so much trouble regulating the environment that they reportedly had food smuggled into them. Oxygen levels became dangerously low; most plants and animals died. In taking over the unsuccessful site, Columbia hopes to erase its notorious past by focusing on small research projects that gradually answer some of Biosphere 1’s — that is, Earth’s most basic environment questions.
小題1:This passage primarily deals with _________.
A．conditions of life in Biosphere 2
B．building controlled environments on other planets
C．why Biosphere 2 failed in the past
D．what makes a good biosphere colonist
小題2:Biosphere 2 is now run by _________.
A．a(chǎn) group of eight colonists
B．Columbia University
C．the city of Tucson
D．scientists who hope to establish Biosphere 3
小題3:The passage suggests that earlier colonists of Biosphere 2 _________.
A．did not like living in a controlled environment
B．found it very difficult to live in a controlled environment
C．still are involved with Biosphere 2
D．have now left the country in disgrace
小題4:The writer helps you understand what Biosphere 2 is like by _________.
A．comparing its features with those of an outer space biosphere
B．explaining the process by which it was constructed
C．referring to an interview with one of former inhabitants
D．describing its appearance and conditions
小題5:In paragraph 3 the word “notorious” means _________.
A．well known for something goodB．well known for something bad
C．very dangerousD．quite interesting

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Who’s in control of your life? Who’s pulling your strings? For the majority of us，it’s other people—society，colleagues，friends，family or our religious community．We learned this way of operating when we were very young，of course．We were brainwashed．We discovered that feeling important and feeling accepted was a nice experience and so we learned to do everything we could to make other people like us．As Oscar Wilde puts it，“Most people are other people．Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions，their lives a mimicry，their passions a quotation．”
So when people tell us how wonderful we are，it makes us feel good．We long for this good feeling like a drug—we are addicted to it and seek it out wherever we can．Therefore，we are so eager for the approval(贊同)of others that we live unhappy and limited lives，failing to do the things we really want to．Just as drug addicts and alcoholics live worsened lives to keep getting their fix(一劑毒品)，we worsen our own existence to get our own constant fix of approval．
But，just as with any drug，there is a price to pay．The price of the approval drug is freedom—the freedom to be ourselves. The truth is that we cannot control what other people think．People have their own agenda，and they come with their own baggage and，in the end，they’re more
interested in themselves than in you．Furthermore，if we try to live by the opinions of others，we will build our life on sinking sand．Everyone has a different way of thinking，and people change
their opinions all the time．The person who tries to please everyone will only end up getting exhausted and probably pleasing no one in the process．
So how can we take back control? I think there’s only one way—make a conscious decision to stop caring what other people think．We should guide ourselves by means of a set of values—not values imposed from the outside by others，but innate values which come from within．If we are driven by these values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of others，we will live a more authentic，effective，purposeful and happy life．
小題1:．What Oscar Wilde says implies that        ．
A．we have thoughts similar to those of others
B．most people have a variety of thoughts
C．other people’s thoughts are more important
D．most people’s thoughts are controlled by others
小題2:．What does the author try to argue in the third paragraph?
A．Changing opinions may cost us our freedom．
B．We may lose ourselves to please others．
C．We need to pay for what we want to get．
D．The price of taking the drug is freedom．
小題3:．It can be concluded from the passage that         ．
A． it’s better to do what we like
B．we shouldn’t care what others think
C．we shouldn’t change our own opinions
D．it’s important to accept others’ opinions
小題4:．The author tries to persuade the readers to accept his arguments mainly by      
A．a(chǎn)nalyzing causes and effectsB．providing examples and facts
C．discussing questionsD．making suggestions

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

People have smoked cigarettes for a long time now. The tobacco which is used to make cigarettes was first grown in what is now part of the United States. Christopher Columbus, who discovered America, saw the Indians smoking. Soon the dried leaves were transported to Europe . In the late 1800s, the Turks made cigarettes popular.
Cigarette smoke contains at least two harmful substances, tar and nicotine. Tar, which forms as the tobacco burns, damages the lungs and therefore affects breathing. Nicotine, which is found in the leaves, causes the heart to beat faster and increases the breathing rate. Nicotine in large can kill a person by stopping a person’s breathing muscles. Smokers usually take in small amounts that the body can quickly break down.
Nicotine can make new smokers feel dizzy(頭暈) or sick to their stomachs. The heart rate for young smokers increases 2 to 3 beats per minute. Nicotine also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood flow in the legs and feet. It plays an important role in increasing smokers’ risk of heart disease and stroke.
Smoking cigarettes is dangerous. Cigarette smoking was the cause of lung cancer and several other deadly diseases.
小題1:.
Tobacco first appeared in_________.
A．AsiaB．Africa
C．EuropeD．America
小題2:.
What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?
A．To tell us the bad effects caused by smoking cigarettes
B．To introduce the history of smoking
C．To let us know what the cigarettes are made from
D．To tell the readers that Columbus found the Indians smoking
小題3:.
._________doesn’t make one’s heart beat as usual.
A．TarB．Nicotine
C．Lung diseaseD．Leave
小題4:.
The following effects are caused by Nicotine EXCEPT that________.
A．It can make new smokers feel dizzy or sick to their stomachs
B．It lowers skin temperature
C．It causes the heart to beat less fast
D．Nicotine will probably kill a person if a smoker takes in too much of it.
小題5:.
What’s the main idea of this passage?
A．Where did cigarettes come from?
B．The effect of smoking on your body.
C．How to smoke is healthy?
D．Who is the first smoker?

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Will Nanfang University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen announce a new beginning for China’s higher education reform? It’s too early to answer. But its presence is challenging the Ministry of Education. Even without the approval of the ministry it seems that the school is determined to move forward and enroll(招收)50 students, so-called child prodigies(奇才), to begin classes on March l, 2011.On graduating in 2015, these students will receive a diploma unauthorized by the Ministry of Education-unlike the students of their age from the state-run universities.
The school is committed to modeling itself on Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, but if the government will not approve the school, the situation could cause a lot of trouble for those 50 students if they want to do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions. Other schools could turn their applications down for their unauthorized diplomas.
The difficulties, however, have not frightened students and their parents away. On Dec.18, 2010 more than 1,000 students and their parents visited Nanfang University of Science and Technology for interviews.
Private investment marks the school out from other higher learning institutions in the nation. Not a penny comes from the government. So the government will have no voice in how the school will be run.
The Ministry of Education has published a comprehensive plan for education reform and development between 2011 and 2020.The goal is to make China’s higher education internationally competitive. To accomplish this goal, the government should have the courage to let the educators who have big ideas try them out. The ministry should have applauded the independence the school in Shenzhen has shown and encouraged more to do likewise.
Education reform in China has reached a new and crucial stage. Nanfang University of Science and Technology has a long way to go to prove itself competitive rather than a diploma mill.
小題1: What will makes those 50 students different from others?
A．They are all child prodigies.
B．They will study much longer time.
C．They are willing to challenge the Ministry of Education.
D．They will receive an unauthorized diploma.
小題2: Over 1,000 students and parents visited the school because            .
A．they believe that the school will have a bright future
B．they believe the government is sure to approve the school
C．the school models itself on Hong Kong University successfully
D．they will never do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions
小題3:The trouble the students in the school may have is that            .
A．the government will have no voice in the school
B．they won’t receive any diploma when graduating from the school
C．other schools are unlikely to accept their diploma from the school
D．they will not learn how to be competitive
小題4: What does the author think of Nanfang University of Science and Technology?
A．It is another kind of diploma mill.
B．It’s impossible for the school to be competitive.
C．It will never get the approval from the Ministry of Education.
D．Its independence from the government may benefit the education reform.
小題5:What is the best title of the passage?
A．University of New Style.B．China’s Education Reform.
C．Modeling Hong Kong University.D．Authorized or Not?

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Some of the planet’s most precious animals and plants are disappearing, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The group, based in Switzerland, works with governments and experts to protect threatened species. On September 12, the IUCN released its Red List, a list of species at greatest risk of extinction.
The list includes 41,415 animals and plants. The IUCN says that habitat destruction, hunting and other causes threaten one in four mammals, one in eight birds and one in three amphibians(兩棲動物).
Who is to blame?
Scientists believe that 99 percent of threatened species are at risk because of human activity. “We are losing animals and plants at a high rate,” says Julia Marton-LefEevre, director general of the IUCN. “We need to change our behavior.” Warmer oceans and over-fishing are changing sea life. This year for the first time corals(珊瑚) made their appearance on the list. The gharial, a crocodile living in India and Nepal, has lost almost 60 percent of its population in the last 10 years. It is a victim（受害者）of habitat destruction.
Still, the news is not all bad. Thanks to efforts made to protect it, the Mauritius echo parakeet, a bird once endangered, has seen an increase in its population. “This shows that protection methods can work,” says Marton-LefEevre. “That’s the message we want to send to young people.”
In China the new reserve（保護區(qū)）itself is part of green efforts that have seen more than 2,400 nature reserves of various kinds being set up, covering more than 15 percent of the nation's land area, official figures showed.
"The country's natural resources(資源) have benefited from conservation," said Lei Guangchun, director of the nature reserve department of Beijing Forestry University. "It is a big increase nowadays compared with other countries." Lei said.
The total areas of China’s natural reserves have covered 1.38 million km2, which accounts for 15.4% of China’s area, higher than both the world average（平均水平） of 11% and the rate in most developed countries.
Li Zhong, an official in charge of the nature reserves office with the State Forestry Administration, thought it was important to increase investment（投資） in such reserves at all levels.
小題1:What do we know about the IUCN?
A．A union for listing animals and plants on the earth
B．A group of volunteers who are interested in wildlife
C．An organization concerning the protection of rare species' survival
D．A government made up officials, scientists and experts
小題2: What can be concluded from the passage?  
A．All the protection methods can’t work.
B．The IUCN does most of the protection.
C．The efforts China makes has paid off.
D．Enough is done in wildlife protection.
小題3:Which of the following is not the cause of the disappearance of the animals?
A．Bad weatherB．Over-hunting C．Warmer oceansD．Habitat destruction
小題4:Which of the sentence is NOT true?
A．China has been paying great attention to protecting the natural resources.
B．China has set up a lot of natural reserves.
C．The natural reserves in China cover more than 15 percent of the nation's land area.
D．The rate of China's natural reserves is lower than the average of the world.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A  rainfores（雨林）is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below 16℃.Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in（吸收） heat from the sun and adjust （調(diào)節(jié)）the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world .Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters（災害） all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources (資源): land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit（受益）.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees, generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run （長遠看）it actually reduces the world’ s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in （在于）the world’s shrinking rainforests.
小題1:.．Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they________.
A．reflect（反射） more heat into the atmosphere
B．bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C．rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃
D．reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
小題2:.．What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
A．We will lose much more than we can gain.
B．Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C．People have a strong desire for resources.
D．Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
小題3:.What might be the best title for the text?
A．How to Save RainforestsB．How to Protect Nature
C．Rainforests and the EnvironmentD．Rainforests and Medical Development

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Bats are the only mammals(哺乳動物) which can fly properly. Other flying mammals have wings of thin skin which cover their sides between their front and back legs. They can only fly from tree to tree, but they cannot change direction when they want to.
All bats fly at night and most of them hunt for flying insects(昆蟲), such as bees. The common bat finds its food by making a constant noise that the human ear cannot hear. The bat listens for echoes(回聲) of the noise as it bounces(反射) off the insects showing the bat their position.
The Fruit bat feeds on many different kinds of fruit. It does not use echoes but instead has very large, special eyes to see even in low light. The largest Fruit bat has a wing length of 0.75 meters. The Vampire bat drinks the blood of large mammals, and a few bats catch fish, birds and even other bats.
小題1: Some flying mammals are not real flyers because _____.
A．they do not have wingsB．their wings are too thin
C．they have skin between their legsD．they cannot turn around in the air
小題2: When common bats hunt for food they _____.
A．use echoes to kill the insectsB．make a noise to draw insects to them
C．produce a sound and listen to the echoesD．listen noise made by the insects
小題3: Unlike other bats, the Fruit bat _____.
A．can see very wellB．eats fruit and fish
C．has very long wingsD．has excellent hearings
小題4:The word "it" in the second paragraph refers to _____.
A．the batB．the echoC．the noiseD．the insect

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