Soaring divorce rates around the globe are affecting the environment, American researchers suggested in a study released Monday.
Michigan State University researcher Jianguo “Jack” Liu and his assistant Eunice Yu said the increasing number of divorces leads to more households with fewer people and greater consumption of water and energy. They said housing units require space, construction materials and fuel to heat and cool, regardless of the number of inhabitants.
For example, in the United States in 2005, divorced households consumed an extra 73 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water. An additional 38 million extra rooms required heating and lighting that same year due to divorced households.
“A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household”, Liu said. He said that in cohabitating households, people will watch the same television, share the air conditioning and heat and use the same refrigerator, all things that use energy at a regularly stable rate regardless of the number of users.
Liu said he was not condemning divorce, “Some people really need to get divorces.” He said that cohabitation was simply a more environmentally friendly option. Additionally, the researchers noted that trends other than divorce are also changing family living structures, such as the end of multiple generations of a family sharing a home and people remaining single longer.
“People’s first reaction to this research is surprise, and then it seems simple.” Liu said in a release, “But a lot of things become simple after research is done. Our challenges were to connect the dots and quantify their relationships. People have been talking about how to protect the environment and refuse climate change, but divorce is an overlooked factor that needs to be considered.”
He said the increasing energy demands caused by divorce should be considered by governments when they are creating environmental policies.
This passage is mainly meant to ____.
A. inform the reader of the increasing divorce in America
B. emphasize the importance of protecting the environment
C. tell people the effect divorce has on the environment
D. appeal to married people to keep their households
According to the passage, what’s the attitude of Mr. Liu towards divorce?
A. Supportive       B. Objective.       C. Indifferent.       D. Unclear.
It can be inferred from the passage that ____.
A. divorced households will promote the sales of products
B. married households are more willing to protect the environment
C. divorced households contribute more to the society’s development
D. divorce is not taken into account when people are protecting the environment
From this passage we can find that ____.
A. divorce rates are quickly rising globally these years
B. cohabiting households will increase consumption of water and energy
C. to divorce is a wise option according to the passage
D. the end of multi-generations of a family will save energy

小題1:C
小題2:B
小題3:D
小題4:A
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


III. 閱讀 (共兩節(jié),滿(mǎn)分40分)
第—節(jié)閱讀理解 (共15小題;每小題2分,滿(mǎn)分30分)
閱讀下列短文,從每題所給的A、B、C和D項(xiàng)中,選出最佳選項(xiàng),并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
Two-legged, humanoid (類(lèi)人的) robots such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd’s ASIMO would likely have an easier time climbing up stairs inside homes than a robot that moves on wheels, developers say.
But it will be some time before such devices make their way into people’s homes.
“They may look smart, but they are still quite stupid,” Shimoyama said. “I don’t think they will ever be as smart as humans.”
While safety is an obvious concern, robots also need to be sensitive to people’s needs.
Researchers at Fujitsu Frontech Ltd and Fujitsu L       aboratories responsible for developing “Enon”, a guide and patrol (巡邏) robot designed for use in shopping malls and corporate facilities (公共場(chǎng)所), are working on this.
Enon, which has a humanoid upper body but no legs, is equipped with a touch screen on its chest and space in its belly to carry loads weighting up to 10 kg.
In guide mode, it will detect a newcomer and approach the person with a nod and a greeting: “Are you a visitor? Hello.”
Visitors requiring directions can point to icons (圖標(biāo)) displayed on Enon’s chest screen. If the restroom icon is pressed, the screen will display a map that shows the way.
The robot will then face and point in the direction of the restroom, although it won’t actually walk the visitor there.
Enon is now in use at four locations in Japan, including a shopping mall near Tokyo. The main goal is to make it more helpful for the elderly.
“People who work in the transportation sector often ask whether we can build a robot that will find elderly people who look lost in train stations, and ask them if they are all right,” said Toshihido Marita, director of Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd’s autonomous system laboratory. “Actually that is hard to do, very hard,” he said.
41. The advantage of Honda Motor Co. Ltd’s ASIMO is that _________.
A. it can do any housework for us       B. it can talk with patients or old people
C. it can climb up stairs as humans      D. it can walk smoothly with its wheels
42. According to Shimoyama, robots _________.
A. can be made to do everything humans do 
B. will be made as smart as humans in the future
C. will remain as stupid as before
D. can never compete with humans in intelligence
43. Most important of all, a robot should be made _________ at present.
A. safe and elegant                           B. safe and functional
C. elegant and cheap                         D. sensitive and cheap
44. Which of the following statements about “Enon” is NOT true?
A. It can be used as a guide in hospitals. 
B. It can help shoppers carry goods selected.
C. It can be used to welcome guests in restaurants.
D. It can be used to stop thieves in malls.
45. Enon is mainly designed to help _________.
A. old people           B. mall owners        C. tourists or newcomers   D. shoppers

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

To wash yourself, you take a bath(洗澡) or a shower. Animals need to keep clean, too. How do animals clean themselves?
Cats lick(舔)themselves to keep their fur clean. Have you ever watched a pet cat clean itself?
Elephants take baths much as you do. But instead of jumping into the tub(浴缸), they walk into a river or lake.
Pigs also like to roll around in water. This keeps them clean and cool. If there is no clean water, they will roll in mud(泥)on a hot day. They do this to cool off. Pigs do not really like mud. They are happier in a nice, clean pond(水池).
Bats have a funny way to keep clean. They lick their thumbs to clean their ears!
Guess how polar bears clean themselves. They use snow, of course!
Some animals take baths in dust instead of water! The wombat(毛鼻袋熊) is an Australian animal with lots of fur. To get clean, it lies down. Then it covers itself with sand!
Birds clean themselves in many ways. Sometimes they wash in water. That’s why some people put birdbaths in their yard. At other times birds take dust baths, just like wombats. Birds also use their beaks(喙)to keep their feathers clean. They use their beaks the way you use a comb.
Sometimes a bird has itchy bugs(發(fā)癢的蟲(chóng)子)in its feathers. Birds may use ants to help them clean off the bugs. A bird will lie down on an ant nest. Then the ants will crawl on the bird. The ants make a kind of bug spray(噴霧)on the feathers;. Then the itchy bugs die!
Birds take baths in something else besides dust and ants! Some birds take “smoke baths” They sit on chimneys. They wave their wings in the smoke!
小題1:This passage mainly tells us       .
A.why some people put birdbaths in their yardB.why birds allow ants to crawl on their body
C.how animals cool off on hot daysD.how some animals keep clean
小題2: What is a pig’s favorite way to get clean?
A.Licking itself.B.Lying down on ants.
C.Rolling in nice, thick mud.D.Taking a bath in clean water.
小題3:Which of the following animals use dust to clean themselves?
A.Cats.B.Bats.C.Wombats.D.Ants.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Just the mention of the TOEFL, GRE and GAMT exams brings a thought of long hours of dull paper work. But that idea is becoming increasingly out of date. As planned, computerized tests will begin next year which will bring a series of changes from test psychology to scoring techniques.
From computer - equipped rooms, examinees will answer the questions on a computer. If they are sure about their choices, they can pass to the next question by pressing the entry (條目) “next”. Then another question will be randomly (任意地) selected from a vast test item bank and appear on the screen. After answering all the questions, examinees can choose the entry “quit” if they are not satisfied with their performance, or “score” if they want to see the result. Scores will be calculated immediately and appear on the screen. By that point, student's marks are official--there is no going back.
Since they greatly shorten the painful waiting process-which used to be two or three months, computerized tests have won worldwide popularity. Besides, there will be no rushing to the registration offices (登記處) for these exams. Computerized tests will be given every workday in an exam center with all three kinds of tests being held in the same room. All test takers need to do is to call the exam center and book their seats for a particular day.
In addition it will become technically possible to apply new testing procedures. In the past, each examinee had the same set of test items despite differences in their ability. Under a computerized system, however, if the computer judges an answer is right, a question of a relatively difficult nature will follow. But if an examinee continues to give wrong answers and is judged as un-qualified by the computer system, he will be automatically denied the chance to go further in the test.
小題1: Computerized tests allow the examinee to know their scores ______.
A.immediately on a central computer for scoring test papers
B.a(chǎn) few minutes after the exam with the help of a test center worker
C.on the next day after they have taken the exam
D.immediately after the exam by means of the same computer
小題2: If an examinee is not satisfied with his performance ______.
A.he can admit defeat and give it upB.he can ask the computer to give some advice
C.he can ask another chance within a few daysD.he is allowed to do it once again
小題3:Under a computerized system, all of the following would be possible except that ______.
A.different exams can be taken in the same room
B.one doesn’t need to rush to the registration officer for taking an exam
C.it will be much easier to pass an examination
D.one can take an exam almost at any time of the year
小題4:The word denied in the last sentence most probably means ______.
A.refusedB.a(chǎn)llowedC.lostD.passed

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

How much can environment affect intelligence? In one study, striking increases in IQ occurred in 25 children who were moved from an orphanage(孤兒院) to more stimulating(使人興奮的,使人振奮的) environments.The children, who were all considered mentally retarded and unadoptable, were moved to an institution where they received personal attention from adults.Later, these supposedly retarded children were adopted by parents who gave them love, a family ,and a stimulating home environment.The children gained an average of 29 IQ points.For one child, the increase was an amazing 58 points.A second group of initially less "retarded" children, who stayed in the orphanage, lost an average of 26 IQ points.
Other encouraging results can be found in early childhood education programs, which provide stimulating intellectual experiences for disadvantaged children.In one study, children from low-income families were given enriched environments from early infancy(嬰兒期) through preschool.By age 2 their IQ scores were already higher than those in a control group.More important, they were still 5 points higher seven years later.High-quality enrichment programs such as Head Start can prevent children from falling behind in school.
A particularly striking environmental effect is the fact that 14 nations have shown average IQ gains of from 5 to 25 points during the last 30 years.These IQ boosts, averaging 15 points, occurred in far too short a time for genetics to explain them.It is more likely that the gains reflect environmental forces, such as improved education, nutrition, and living in a technologically complex society.
小題1:What's the main idea of this passage
A.Retarded children cannot improve their IQ's.
B.Orphanages are full of mentally retarded children.
C.Environmental factors influence a child's IQ.
D.Early childhood education programs are important.
小題2:The author is in favor of _____________ according to the passage.
A.putting retarded children into institutions
B.providing early childhood education programs
C.keeping children in orphanages
D.keeping retarded children with others like themselves
小題3:Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an environmental factor that affects IQ       .
A.Good nutrition.B.Improved technology.
C.Better education.D.Food pollution.
小題4:What can we conclude from the passage ?
A.Attention from parents has little effect on a child's IQ.
B.Head Start programs are a waste of money.
C.Increases in IQ have happened in the US more rapidly than elsewhere.
D.Genetics are less important than environment in gaining one's IQ.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


B
China is going green.In order to reduce air pollution and oil shortages, carmakers have announced their plans to develop hybrid vehicles (混合燃料汽車(chē)) for the Chinese market.Toyota’s hybrid car Prius will be ready to drive in China this week.Let’s have a look at the new car.
Any vehicle is a hybrid run on a rechargeable battery and gas.Hybrid cars have special engines, which are smaller than traditional gas engines.The gasoline engine provides 99 percent of the power when the car is going at a steady speed. A specially designed battery motor provides extra power for running up hills or when it needs to speed up.
Step into a Prius, and turn on the engine.The first thing you notice is that it is quieter than a traditional car.At this point, the car’s gas engine is at rest.The electric motor will provide power until the car reaches about 24km/h.If you stay at a low speed, you are effectively driving an electric car, with no gas being used, and no waste gas given off.
The computer decides when to use the gas engine, when to go electric, and when to use a combination of the two.If you go over 24km/h, when you step on the gas pedal (油門(mén)), you are telling the computer how fast you want to go.
The electric motor recharges automatically using a set of batteries.And when driving at a high speed, the gas engine not only powers the car but also recharges the batteries.When you use the brake, the electric motor in the wheels will work like a generator (發(fā)電機(jī)) to produce electricity to recharge the batteries.As a result, the car’s batteries will last for around 200,000 miles.
66.The underlined sentence probably means ________.
A.there will be more and more green land in China  
B.China’s new cars are combinations of different green models
C.China is still young and lacking in experience
D.the environment is getting better in China
67. What is the most important feature of hybrid cars?
A. They are powered by both a rechargeable battery and gas.
B. They have smaller engines than traditional gas ones.
C. They only use 99 percent of their power to run up hill.
D. They are much quieter than traditional cars.
68. We can know from the story that ________.
A. the gas engine recharges the batteries as well as powering the car
B. using the brake suggests that the gas engine should work
C. the car’s batteries will last for around 200,000 miles without being recharged
D. the batteries can be recharged at any time you want
69. The author writes the passage mainly to________.
A. announce plans to develop hybrid vehicles for the Chinese market
B. let people know how to save their gas when driving a car
C. teach people how to drive a hybrid car
D. introduce a new kind of “green” car
70.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A.The hybrid car is environmentally friendly.
B.The hybrid car is unable to get itself recharged.
C.The hybrid car has been made in mass.
D.The hybrid car can decide what power to use

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

When I first began to work with international students, I asked someone at a lunch, “What brings you here today?” Looking at me like I was a bit crazy, he answered, “ The bus.” That was my first realization that no matter how good a speaker is, there are phrases that will always tend to cause confusion to non-native speakers. These idiomatic phrases(慣用語(yǔ)) add color and interest to any language and are worth learning if you want to talk fluently with native speakers.
“By no stretch”----The speaker is referring to something that’s very hard to achieve or realize, even with great effort, as in “It was not a good meal, by any stretch of the imagination.” Which means that ______________.
“Half dead”----An expression of extreme tiredness, having nothing to do with actual health. Commonly used at the end of a long and tiring day.
“By the book”----This means that an action should follow the rules exactly. It also describes the nature of someone who won’t deviate(背離) from a set of rules no matter what the situation is.
“More power to you”----This isn’t a wish for you to have better electricity from the power company----it’s a statement, usually slightly ironic(諷刺的), that the speaker thinks that you are unlikely to do a task, but you should try if you think you can complete it. It generally means the speaker has no intention of helping you achieve your goal neither will they discourage you from attempting to reach it. For example, “I don’t think you can meet that deadline, but more power to you.”
“As easy as pie”----A reference that something is as simple or easy as eating a delicious dessert, or that it requires little effort to successfully achieve. In chatting, this phrase does not refer to the process of cooking or eating.
小題1:The example given by the author in the first paragraph is used to show__________.
A.the importance of learning idiomsB.the beauty of the English language
C.the foolishness of the studentD.the cause of the misunderstanding
小題2:According to the passage, which of the following would be proper to fill in the blank in Paragraph 2?
A.the meal is very deliciousB.it’s very hard to make the meal delicious
C.people make great efforts to make the meal delicious
D.even if people try to believe it, the meal could not be described as good
小題3:If someone says he is half dead, he means____________.
A.he is in poor healthB.he cannot move
C.he has a sound sleepD.he is exhausted
小題4:If a person daren’t do things in a creative way, you may describe him by using “__________”.
A.by no stretchB.by the book
C.a(chǎn)s easy as pieD.the breaker of rules

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Our sun is a star, and nine worlds move round it. Worlds like these are planets (行星).
But there are other stars, other suns. Not only thousands of them, but millions of them. Do different stars have planets? We can see the planets round our own sun. But we haven’t seen any more. The stars are too far away from us. Stars give out (發(fā)出)light, but the planets don’t have any light of their own. So we can’t see them. They’re too far, and too dark.
Still, we can tell that some stars have planets. While a big planet goes round, it pulls its star to one side. And sometimes we can see this, Then we know that the star has a planet.
For example, Barnard’s Star(巴納德星)is a small red star. And it is the quickest star in the universe. But sometimes it moves slower, and then quicker again. We have know Barnard’s Star for many years, and now we are sure it has a planet.
小題1:A star is a large body in the universe.it________.
A.moves round our sunB.has light of its own
C.can also be called a worldD.both B and C
小題2:Which of the following is not true?
A.The earth is one of sun’s worldsB.There are millions of suns in the universe.
C.The worlds are very bright.D.Some stars have planets
小題3:Barnard’s Star moves more quickly than _______.
A.most starsB.a(chǎn)ny other star
C.its planetD.the planets round the sun
小題4:How can people know that there is a plante round Barnard’s Star?
A.Sometimes they see that the planet pulls the star to one side and makes it move slower
.
B.The planet is shining.
C.The planet is next to our earth.
D.The planet is a red one.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Though “nanometer”(納米) is now a fashionable term all over the world, few people know
exactly what it is. It has become a new favorite of manufacturers and sellers in recent years.Many “high-tech” products bearing the name “nano” have entered the market,bringing more mysterious feeling to surprised consumers.
Nanometer is a very small length unit of measure,and is very small.One millimeter is 1000 micrometers,and one micrometer is 1000 nanometers.That is,one nanometer is one billionth of a meter.Nano materials are solid materials composed of particles(粒子)or crystallites(晶體) of less than 100 nanometer in size.Then,is a cup made of nano material really any different from an ordinary cup in function as far as how it works?
Are nano cups really so wonderful?A reporter went to the Institute of Nanomedicine,which is the first such institute of such a sort in the world and the only one in China,specializing in researching the investigation  of the application of nano technology into medicine.
A water molecule(分子) is composed of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.It can be changed only by special manipulation of the atoms. The material constituting the cup can have ananometer particles . But it cannot change the chemical and physical properties of the water contained in it.The water in the cup is still water. When people drink it,it will produce no special effect on human body.
Professor Ji who worked in the Instiute of Nanomedicine told the reporter, so far, the investigation of nano materials is still limited in the laboratory. No commercial micro products can be produced yet. With the present level of science and technology, the time of everyday goods made of nanometer materials is still years away.
The products labeled with nano marks in the market now are only traditional products coated with a thin layer of nanometer material, which makes them more abrasion resistant(耐磨), much easier to be cleaned, or oil resisting or moth proof(防蛀).
Professor Ji explained that nano cup is a real up. It can also be included in the list of nano products in a certain sense. But the nano up has not changed its property and function as a cup. It is not a magical medicine for curing and health care.
72.Which of the following shows the right relationship?
A.nanometer<millimeter<micrometer<meter
B.micrometer<millimeter<nanometer<meter
C.nanometer<micrometer<millimeter<meter
D.millimeter<micrometer<nanometer<meter
73.It can be inferred from the passage that       .
A.nano materials have been put into use in daily goods
B.real nano products haven’t become available for people
C.the nano cup is very effective in curing and health care
D.real nano products are being produced by some companies
74.The underlined word “properties” in the fourth paragraph probably means        .
A.possessions      B.qualities    C.reactions   D.symbols
75.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.High-tech Products  B.Nano Cups
C.Nano Materials        D.High-teach Research

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