Plastics are considered one of the most serious pollutants causing environmental problems. The garbage containing plastics end up in the waterways that eventually flow into the oceans. Accumulation (聚集)of plastic in the ocean endangers marine life and pollutes the water.
Does a plastic continent exist? Yes, a plastic continent does exist and was discovered by Captain Charles Moore a decade ago. The plastic continent is twice the size of Britain and it is the region between the Hawaii Islands and California in the central Pacific Ocean.
One of the causes of the lack of marine life in this region is due to pollution and pollutants are none other than plastics. Captain Charles Moore believes plastic waste started accumulating in the 1950s.
The plastic continent is the man-made continent of floating plastic waste. The fisher men and the sailors have avoided this region for years. The reasons are:
1. There are no fish here because of the lack of nutrients.
2. The zone also lacks the wind that is essential for sailing.
To do research on the ocean pollution, Captain Moore founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Other organizations such as Greenpeace supported his cause. The reports of The United Nations Environment Program show that millions of seabirds and marine animals are dying due to the invasion(入侵)of plastics. The waste plastics can be recycled, but in fact they are being thrown into the oceans. The marine animals mistake these for food and eat them. This leads to their death that affects the marine food chain.
To save the oceans from the plastic continent you need to reduce the use of plastics, reuse plastic bags and recycle plastics.
小題1: What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A．A plastic continent does exist in the Pacific Ocean
B．Endangered marine life is well protected.
C．Plastics are one of the main causes of water pollution.
D．Plastics should be forbidden in people’s daily life.
小題2: What is the direct influence of the plastic continent?
A．Local fishermen have to fish in other areas.
B．The water becomes shallow and fish have to move away.
C．The wind is too strong there and it makes sailing more difficult.
D．It makes people realize the importance of protecting the environment.
小題3: It is implied that the work of plastic recycling proves to be ______.
A．effectiveB．expensiveC．a(chǎn) difficult taskD．not good enough
小題4:What can we learn from the passage?
A．Many marine animals are dying due to the broken marine food chain.
B．Captain Moore founded Greenpeace to do research on the ocean pollution.
C．The marine animals have no choice but to eat plastics for lack of food.
D．There are three ways to prevent the oceans from becoming a plastic continent.

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

A recent study of ancient and modern elephants has  come up with the unexpected conclusion that the African elephant is divided into two distinct (不同的) species
The discovery was made by researchers at York and Harvard universities when they were examining the genetic relationship between the ancient woolly mammoth and mastodon to modern elephants—the Asian elephant, African forest elephant and African savanna elephant
Once they obtained DNA sequences (序列) from two fossils (化石)，mammoths and mastodons the team compared them with DNA from modern elephants. They found to their amazement that modern forest and savanna elephants are as distinct from each other as Asian elephants and mammoths.
The scientists used detailed genetic analysis to prove that the African savanna elephants and the African forest elephants have been distinct species for several million years. The divergence of the two species took place around the time of the divergence of Asian elephants and woolly mammoths. This result amazed all the scientists.
There has long been debate in the scientific community that the two might be separate species but this is the most convincing scientific evidence so far that they are indeed different species.
Previously, many naturalists believed that African savanna elephants and African forest elephants were two populations of the same species despite the elephants’ significant size differences. The savanna elephant has an average shoulder height of 3.5metres while the forest elephant has an average shoulder height of 2.5metres. The savanna elephant weighs between six and seven tons, roughly double the weight of the forest elephant. But the fact that they look so different does not necessarily mean they are different species. However, the proof lay in the analysis of the DNA.
Alfred Roca, assistant professor in the department of Animal Sciences at the University of Minois, said, “We now have to treat the forest and savanna elephants as two different units for conservation purpose. Since 1950 all African elephants have been conserved as one species. Now that we know the forest and savanna elephants are two very distinct animals, the forest elephant should become a bigger priority (優(yōu)先)for conservation purpose .”
小題1:One of the fossils studied by the researchers is that of ________.
A．the Asian elephantB．the forest elephant
C．the savanna elephantD．the mastodon elephant
小題2:The underlined word “divergence” in paragraph 4means “________”
A．evolutionB．exhibitionC．separationD．examination
小題3:The researcher’s conclusion was based on a study of the African elephant’s ____________
A．DNAB．heightC．weightD．population
小題4: What were Alfred Roca’s words mainly about?
A．The conversation of African elephants.
B．The purpose of studying African elephants
C．The way to divide African elephants into two units
D．The reason for the distinction of African elephants
小題5: Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A．Naturalist’s Belief about Elephants.
B．Amazing Experiment about Elephants
C．An Unexpected Finding about Elephants
D．A Long scientific Debate about Elephants

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archeologists (考古學(xué)家) says. In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.
“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or a further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.
The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventuallly the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.
Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
小題1:According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because ______.
A．it is only a temporary measure on the human remains
B．it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research
C．it was introduced by the government without their knowledge
D．it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains
小題2:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A．Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.
B．Human remains of the oldest species were dug out at Happisburgh.
C．Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.
D．Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.
小題3:What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?
A．The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.
B．The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.
C．The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.
D．The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.
小題4:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A．New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.
B．Research time should be extended, scientists require.
C．Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.
D．Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archeologists warn.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It’s always great to hear news about wildlife returning to where they once lived. For the first time in 8 years the small blue --- British’s smallest butterfly--- has been seen back at a nature reserve in Hertfordshire.
This nature reserve has had a lot of work done recently in order to help butterflies. Management of the land has included bringing in sheep to keep the grass under control in a more natural way and planting wild flowers for butterfly species. The nature reserve is home to a number of butterfly species. In fact the way that this reserve has been managed means that it is probably the best reserve in Hertfordshire to see butterflies with at least 25 species now living in the area.
There are a number of threats to British butterflies and the greatest threat is the loss of their habitat. Changing farming practice has affected British native butterfly species greatly with many more now being at risk. Butterflies are such an excellent species that they can clearly tell the situation of local environment because they are easily influenced by environmental changes, A wide species of butterflies will generally mean a healthy environment.
The type of land management at the nature reserve in Hertfordshire offers a hope for many species of butterfly to live as usual. Butterflies need all the help they can get at the moment. Although the number of butterflies is beginning to increase, many are still at risk.
小題1:What has the nature reserve done to help butterflies return ?
a. changing the reserve place     b. bringing in sheep
c. planting wild flowers         d. changing farming practice
A．a(chǎn).bB．c,dC．a(chǎn),dD．b,c
小題2:Why did the butterflies fly away eight years ago？
A．The weather is changingB．The flowers have died out
C．Their habitat has been lost.D．The environment has changed
小題3:What can we infer from the passage?
A．The environment has changed healthier a lot than before.
B．All the butterflies have returned to the reserve.
C．There is no threat to the British butterflies.
D．Over 25 species is living in the reserve now.
小題4:What does the underlined sentence mean?
A．The butterflies changed as the environment changed.
B．Butterflies are very beautiful.
C．Butterflies are sensitive to the environment the live.
D．Butterflies can tell us what is happening.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Like distance runners on a measured course, all of us will move through time in a roughly predictable pattern.
In the first stage of our lives, we develop and grow, reaching toward the top of physical vitality (活力,生氣).
After we grow up, however, the body begins a process of gradually wearing out.
A new awareness of physical fitness may help lengthen our years of health and vitality, yet nothing we do will work to stop the unavoidable force of aging.
Most of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body. The lungs become less able to take in oxygen. Powerful muscles gradually lose their strength. The heart loses power and pumps less blood. Bones grow easier to break.
Finally, we meet a stress, a stress that is greater than our physical resistance. Often, it is only a minor accident or chance infection (a disease caused by virus), but this time, it brings life to an end.
In 1932, a classic experiment nearly doubled the lifetime of rats, simply by cutting back the calories in their diet. The reason for the effect was then unknown.
Today, at the University of California at Berkley, Dr. Paul Seagle has also greatly lengthened the normal lifetime of rats. The result was achieved through a special protein limited diet, which had a great effect on the chemistry of the brain. Seagle showed that within the brain, specific chemicals control many of the signals that influence aging. By changing that chemical balance, the clock of aging can be reset.
For the first time, the mystery of why we age is being seriously challenged. Scientists in many fields are now making striking and far-reaching discoveries.
An average lifetime lasts 75 years, yet in each of us lies a potential for a longer life. If we could keep the vitality and resistance to disease that we have at age twenty, we would live for 800 years.
小題1: What does the underlined word “it” refer to?
A．Physical vitality.B．Stress. C．Aging.D．Physical resistance.
小題2:Which of the following is not a change of aging?
A．The lungs become unable to take in oxygen.
B．People gradually lose their muscle strength.
C．The heart loses power and pumps less blood.
D．Bones tend to break more easily.
小題3: The author believes the following except that ________.
A．human’s life pattern is predictable
B．physical fitness can’t stop the force of aging
C．human’s lifetime will last longer than 75 years
D．a(chǎn)ll of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body
小題4:How did Dr. Paul Seagle lengthen the lifetime of rats in his experiment?
A．By limiting the protein in their diet.B．By cutting the calories in their diet.
C．By resetting their clock of aging.D．By keeping their physical fitness.
小題5: What is probably the best title for the article?
A．Two Great ExperimentsB．The Mystery of Human Life
C．Ways to lengthen Human LifeD．The Breakthrough in the Study of Aging

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Research shows that humans switch from selfish to unselfish behavior when they are watched. Do you?
A picture of a set of eyes on a computer screen can cause a change in the way people act. Even images of eyes on a charity donation, collection box encourage people to be unselfish, because people put more money in a
collection box that has a picture of eyes on it than they do when a flower symbol is on the box.
Manfred Milinski from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Germany and Bettina Rockenbach of the University of Berlin, the authors of a new study, found that people act better when they are being watched because they feel they will be rewarded for good behavior. Their report also referred to other research showing that this response of behaving well when watched is somehow coded into humans and people respond this way unconsciously, or without realizing it.
It is not just humans that act unselfishly when they are being watched. A fish called the grooming fish cleans other fish. When other fish are around, it is gentler. When no other fish are around, however, the grooming fish bites chunks from the fish it is supposed to be cleaning.
The researchers suggest that the best way to get people to behave in the correct way is to make them feel watched. This could be the reason for the success of a famous American army poster. On it was a picture of an elderly man staring fiercely and pointing, it appeared, to the person who was looking at the poster. Under the picture was the caption 'I Want You' It encouraged hundreds of thousands of young American men to join the army during the Second World War to fight the Germans and Japanese.
小題1:.
According to the report, why does a person behave better when he feels he is being watched?
   
A．He does not want to be shamed by others.
B．He needs to show he is a good person.
C．He desires others to like him more.
D．He feels he will receive some social reward.
小題2:.
．What is the text mainly about?
A．It describes changed behavior when observed.
B．It details ways to control people's behavior.
C．It tells how to make people work harder.
D．It discusses different advertising methods.
小題3:.
According to the text, which of the following statements is true?
A．People pretend to behave better when they are watched.
B．Fish bite other fish in a fish tank when they are alone.C．People donate more money when they feel they are watched.
D．Soldiers fought better during World War II because of a poster.
小題4:.
．Where would the study described in the text most likely be found?
A．In a newspaper.B．In a scientific journal.
C．In an advertising magazine.D．In a science textbook.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Old age may not sound exciting.But recent findings offer good news for older pepole and for people worried about getting older.
Researches found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty.In fact,they say by the age of eighty—five,people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.
The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States.The Gallup Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008.At that time,the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty—five.The searches asked questions about emotions like happiness,sadness and worry.They also asked about mental or emotional stress.
Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults  between the ages of twenty—two and twenty—five.The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies.The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.
The study also showed that men and women had similar emotional patterns as they grew older.Hower,women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men.Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older.One theory is that,as people grow older,they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotion .They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children,being unemployed or being single.But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well—being related to age.
小題1: How did the researchers find older people happier?
A．They did a series of experiments.
B．They made a written survey about the old people.
C．They interviewed people of different ages face to face.
D．They telephoned people between the ages of 18 and 85.
小題2:When do people feel happier according to the passage?
A．In their twentiesB．In their fifties
C．After their seventiesD．When they were born
小題3:Which one is NOT related to the happiness of old people?
A．Less stressB．Away from working
C．Controlling of emotionsD．More thankfulness
小題4:Which is the best title for the passage?
A．No Worrying about Getting Older
B．Older Men are Happier than Older Women
C．The Factors Affecting the Happiness of Old people
D．For Lots of people,Getting Older Means Getting Happy

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

In the 13th century, the famous Italian traveler, Marco Polo, traveled a long way to China. During his stay in China, he saw many wonderful things. One of the things he discovered was that the Chinese used paper money. In western countries, people didn’t use the paper money until 15th century. However, people in China began to use paper money in the 7th century.
A Chinese man called Cai Lun invented paper almost 2,000 years ago. He took the wood from trees and made it into paper. He then put these pieces of paper together and made them into a book.
Now paper still comes from trees. We use a lot of paper every day. If we keep on wasting so much paper, there will not be any trees left on the earth. If there are no trees, there will be no paper. Every day, people throw away about 2,800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper. This means that we are cutting nearly 48,000 trees every day. Since it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow, we must start using less paper now.
So how can we save paper? We can use both sides of every piece of paper, especially when we are making notes. We can use cotton handkerchiefs and not paper ones. When we go shopping, we can use fewer paper bags. If the shop assistant gives us a paper bag, we can save it and reuse it later.
Everyone can help to save paper. If we all think carefully, we can help protect trees. But we should do it now, before it is too late.
小題1: When he was in China, Marco Polo ____________.
A．discovered Cai Lun invented paperB．learned to make paper
C．saw many wonderful thingsD．read a lot of books
小題2: Which of the following is not a way of saving paper?
A．To use both sides of every piece of paper
B．To use fewer paper bags when shopping
C．To use cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones
D．To grow more trees
小題3: Which of the following is not true?
A．If we keep on wasting paper, we will have no paper to use one day.
B．The Chinese used paper money much earlier than people in western countries.
C．About 48,000 trees can be used to make 2,800 tons of paper.
D．It is never too late to plant trees for paper.
小題4: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A．Saving PaperB．The History of Paper
C．Cotton Handkerchiefs Back AgainD．Cai Lun, the Inventor

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Finding the right school for your child is a process. You will want to read about the school, talk to any friends who are involved in the school and, most important of all, visit the school.
The first step in finding out about Indian Creek is to request an information packet. We will be happy to send you a packet containing a brochure(小冊子), the fee structure and an application. The packet should answer most of your general questions about the school.
In order to get a true sense of Indian Creek School, you should come for an Admission Tour, which includes a personal meeting focusing on your child, a tour of the building and the classrooms, and a discussion of the curriculum(課程).
This visit is no less important if the child for whom you are seeking admission is a teenager than if he or she is a three-year-old one. Every school has a different “school climate.” If you visit two or three schools, you will notice that each “feels” different. You know your child best and you will quickly develop a sense of whether a school is the right match or not.
●The initial point of entry for Indian Creek Students is at the pre-kindergarten level for three year olds.
●Children must be three years old by August 31st.
●We also have major points of entry from grade six to grade nine. At each of these levels, we open new sections and accept students in addition to those moving up from our own lower grades.
●There are scattered(零散的) openings available throughout the program due to attrition(學(xué)生流失). Once an opening occurs, students spend a day at ICS, part of which includes admission testing.
小題1: You can NOT get to know about ICS by ________.
A．getting an information packet
B．taking an admission tour
C．a(chǎn)sking friends involved in ICS
D．taking an admission test
小題2: During the Admission Tour, you can ________.
A．having a meeting with the children
B．decide on the design of the classrooms
C．talk with the school about the courses
D．choose the weather suitable for study
小題3: Which of the following is NOT accepted for ICS when there is no attrition?
A．A boy who will be 3 years old by July.
B．A fifth grader originally studying in ICS.
C．An eighth grader from another school.
D．A fourth grader from another school.
小題4: The text is intended for ________.
A．teachers
B．parents
C．kindergarteners
D．school kids

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