Construction workers in Southern California have made a wild discovery. They were digging at a building site in San Timoteo Canyon (峽谷) when they unearthed hundreds of ancient animal fossils. Researchers say the bones hold important clues about the history of the region.
Nearly 1, 500 fossils were recovered from the dusty canyon. The remains are about 1.4 million years old. They include the bones of a new species of deer, several small rodents (嚙齒目動(dòng)物) and more. A giant cat fossil was also found. Scientists believe the animal was an ancestor of the saber- toothed tiger. Signs of plant life were uncovered as well.
“This is a huge find,” says Rick Greenwood, a scientist studying the site. “I don’t think most people had any idea that those types of animals were wandering around here more than a million years ago.”
San Timoteo Canyon is located about 85 miles from Los Angeles. The area of the canyon where the fossils were found was once part of a green river valley. Today, the region is dry and plant life is rare.
Most of the fossils are well preserved. Experts say a muddy lake bed may have trapped thirty animals that wandered over for a drink. The mud helped to protect the animal fossils.
The remains are a million years older than those discovered at the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Scientists studying the bones will be able to learn more about how the animals adapted to changes in the environment.
“We have a confused view of what this time period was like, ” says another scientist. “A discovery like this could really be an important contribution.”
About 35 different animal species are represented in the fossil collection. Scientists began removing bones from the site last fall. The project was completed this summer. Starting next year, the fossils will be on display at the Western Science Center in the nearby city of Hemet, California.
小題1:
What does the passage mainly focus on?
A．The secret of ancient animals’ deaths.
B．The preparation for a future fossil exhibition.
C．A great discovery of fossils.
D．The history of San Timoteo Canyon.
小題2:
From what Rick says, we know ________. (原創(chuàng))
A．fossils were discovered in the canyon for the first time.
B．the canyon in ancient times was quite different.
C．more research work will be carried on in the canyon.
D．the river water helped to protect the animal fossils.
小題3:
Compared to the discovery at the La Brea Tar Pits, the canyon-involved fossils _______.
A．a(chǎn)re far olderB．include more species
C．a(chǎn)re better preservedD．make experts more confused
小題4:
What do we know about the fossils from the passage?
A．All of them are of new species.
B．Some of them have been destroyed
C．They were looked for under experts’ guidance.
D．They will be on show in the near future.

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

Which are you more likely to have wath you at sny given mement—your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electroue scannet.
In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its states. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we’re likely to see more witeless payment alternatives as something called ucar field communcation(NFC)GETS IN TO America’s consumet electanies. Last Deccmbet some new smart phanes which cantain an NFC chip were introduced to the public.
Already in use in part of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave theie phones a few inchs above a payment terminal-a contact-free system build for speed and convenience.  plan a few incees live a payment tetminal a one a few ptaht need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable trunsacian(交易)fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave and pay systems that use NFC enabled credit cards, cellphone service providers truay try to mused their way into the point of sale (POS)market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joinf tenture(合資企業(yè))that will go into opention over the next 15 months. Its goal is“to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone.”
The other big NFC sue, apart from how paymeats will be processed, is security, For instance, what’s to stop a thief from digitally pickpocketing you? “We’re still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against yee in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone,”says Jimmy Shah. A mobile security rescarcher, “Usera may also be able to set transaction timeits,requiring a password to be enteced for larger putchases.
Bussiness? Keep in mund you lost your smart phone, it can be located on a located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected, Your wallet isn’t.
小題1:What is predicted to happen in the U.S.?
A．The expansion of cellphone companices.
B．The boom of pay by phone business.
C．The dissppearanceof credit cards.
D．The increase of Starbucks sales.s
小題2:The NFC technology can be used to________.
A．ensure the safety of shoppers
B．collect transaction fees easily
C．make purchase faster and smpler
D．improve the quality of cellphones
小題3:Three cellphone service providers form a joint venture to__________.
A．strengthen their relationship
B．get a share in the payments industry
C．sell more cellphones
D．test the NFC teehnoingy
小題4:According to the what can users do if they lose their smart phones?
A．Stop the luneting of niet phones.
B．Stop a passwant.
C．Cat all the money out of their phones.
D．Can large purchases.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A scientist turns out to be able to see the future by offering each of some four-year-olds a piece of candy and watching how he or she deals with it. Some children reach eagerly for the treat they see. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others are determined to wait until the last moment.
By the time the children reach high school, something remarkable has happened. A survey found that those who as four-year-olds had enough self-control to hold out generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. The children who gave in to temptation early on were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated and inflexible .
Actually, the ability to delay reward is a sign of emotional intelligence which doesn’t show up on an IQ test.
The hardware of the brain and the software of the mind have long been scientists’ concerns. But brain theory can’t explain what we wonder about most, like the question why some people remain upbeat in the face of troubles that would sink a less resistant soul.   
Here comes the theory of Daniel Goleman, writer of Emotional Intelligence: when it comes to predicting people’s success, brain ability as measured by IQ may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as “character”.
EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers have been trying to understand is how they work together; how one’s ability to handle stress, for instance, affects the ability to concentrate and put intelligence to use. Among the elements for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%; the rest depends on everything from social class to luck.
While many researchers in this relatively new field are glad to see emotional issues finally taken seriously, some few fear EQ invites misuse.
小題1:Which of the following is true of EQ and IQ according to the text?
A．The higher a person’s EQ is, the higher his or her IQ is.
B．The higher a person’s IQ is, the higher his or her EQ is.
C．Some people can be blessed with lots of both, but some with little of either.
D．Scientists have already discovered the way in which EQ and IQ work together.
小題2: The underlined word “upbeat” in Paragraph 4 probably means         .
A．kindB．floatingC．excitedD．optimistic
小題3:What is most likely to be written in the paragraph that follows?
A．Information about famous people with high EQ.
B．Examples showing the opposite voice about EQ.
C．Some reasons why EQ is a relatively new field.
D．Strong demand for basic emotional education.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

New archaeological discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research could add a fascinating new page to the epic (史詩(shī)) of the Silk Road.
The most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West trade along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission（使命）across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthian for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury (奢侈品) markets in Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
小題1:The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by        .
A．combinedB．contributedC．doubledD．produced
小題2:The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that         .
A．Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk
B．new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices
C．historical research often achieves fascinating results
D．trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought
小題3:Until recently historians mostly believed that trade along the Silk Road       .
A．began a million years ago
B．primarily benefited the Egyptians
C．originated in the 2nd century BC
D．extended human migration into eastern Asia
小題4:Historians have always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important because they believe       .
A．he discovered the Silk Road
B．he helped establish East-West trade
C．he travelled as far as Afghanistan
D．he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It takes two to duet (二重唱), and one question for scientists is how these coordinated (協(xié)調(diào)的) performances arise — in birds. Are they the result of cooperation, a way in which one pair signals to others that they’ve got it together? Or are they the result of conflict, evolving to avoid one partner’s song interfering with the other’s?
A study of duetting in Peruvian warbling antbirds(蟻鳥(niǎo)) suggests that it might be a little of both, and that context is everything. Joseph A. Tobias and Nathalie Seddon of the University of Oxford show in Current Biology that sexual conflict can cause the female of a pair that normally cooperates to “jam” the male’s song by singing over it.
The researchers exposed antbird pairs to recorded songs of other antbirds and monitored the songs the pairs produced. In one experiment, they played the songs of an intruding pair. In this case, the resident pair “both are likely to lose their territory, so both should cooperate,” Dr. Tobias said. And they do. They produce a coordinated duet that in effect tells the intruders to keep away.
But when the researchers played the song of a single female, the pair behaved differently. “You’d expect the resident female to be highly motivated to defend her position in the partnership,” Dr. Tobias said. And that’s what occurs. The male sings its heart out, flirting(調(diào)情) with the single female, and the female of the pair does its best to interfere with the song by singing over it, apparently to make her mate less attractive to the other female.
“It’s clear that the male doesn’t like what she’s doing,” Dr. Tobias said. The behavior “breaks up what is otherwise a very cooperative situation into a more complicated signal,” he added.
It’s the first evidence of this kind of signal jamming among pairs, Dr. Tobias said.
And in that it leads the male to alter its song to avoid the female’s interfering notes, it shows that this kind of conflict could, over a long period, drive the evolution of coordinated song.
小題1:
What is the key factor of antbirds’ duet?
A．Their cooperation.B．Their conflict.
C．The context.D．Their instinct.
小題2:
How did the researchers conduct the experiment?
A．They put the antbird pairs back to nature and observe them.
B．They played different recorded songs of other antbirds.
C．They put an antbird to the other’s territory and observed.
D．They played the songs of an intruding pair.
小題3:
Why did the female bird sing according to Paragraph 4?
A．It wanted to show its singing talent to the partner.
B．It aimed at keeping the partnership with the male.
C．It wanted to frighten the other females.
D．It wanted to make her mate more attractive.
小題4:
Which of the following is the topic of this passage?
A．The special phenomenon about birds pairs.
B．The conflict of bird pairs.
C．The cooperation of bird pairs.
D．The piece of music for bird pairs.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

According to a survey released by the Nielson Company on Thursday, China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics.
The survey said the Olympics not only built up China’s image but also served as an advertisement for China’s tourism.
The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing.
About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games.
According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought.
The most interested respondents were from Singapore, India, Mexico, South Africa and the Republic of Korea, as well as China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism Organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year.
“This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics,” Pan said.
小題1:When was the online survey conducted?
A．During the Olympics
B．Before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing
C．After the Olympics’ closing
D．We don't know
小題2:Which countries were the most interested respondents from?
A．Singapore, India, MexicoB．South Africa and the Republic of Korea
C．China’s Hong Kong and TaiwanD．All of the above
小題3:Which country did the World Tourism Organization predict would become the largest tourist attraction in the world?
A．ChinaB．JapanC．South AfricaD．Hong Kong
小題4:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．About 80 percent of the respondents expressed hopes of visiting China during the Games
B．The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries
C．137 million foreign tourists have come to China every year
D．The Beijing Olympics greatly speed up China’s tourism

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Do you know how to prepare for and survive a major earthquake? According to Department of Conservation scientists, it is important to have the right answer to that question.
How to Be Prepared
Electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire departments are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to fend for yourself at least three days,preferably for a week. You’ll need food, water and so on. It’s also a good idea to decide ahead of time how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake. You might choose an out-of-the-area friend or relative that family members can call to check on you.
________
If you’re indoors, stay there. Get under a desk or table. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you’re in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator. If you’re outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you. If you’re driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses.
After an Earthquake
Check for fire. If you smell gas, shut off the main gas valve(閥). If there’s sign of damage to electricial wiring, shut off the power at the control box. If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency(緊急情況). Avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles. Be careful that things may fall out of cupboards when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with just a touch. Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes. If you leave home, leave a message telling your friends and family your location.
小題1:
The underlined phrase“tend for’’ in the second paragraph probably means“ ________’’
A．look forB．take care ofC．be proud ofD．think of
小題2:
Which of the following would be the best subtitle for the third paragraph?
A．Before an EarthquakeB．After Making Preparations
C．While Staying at HomeD．During an Earthquake
小題3:
What should you do when an earthquake happens?
A．You should stay away from the kitchen.
B．You should drive on a bridge.
C．You should turn off the power.
D．You should listen to the radio frequently.
小題4:
What will probably happen after a big earthquake?
A．The local people’s life will return to normal in a week.
B．There will be more earthquakes in a short time.
C．There won’t be any earthquakes in a short time.
D．The local people will stay at home waiting for help.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

When it comes to protecting the privacy of their children, U.S. parents give social networks a failing grade. According to a recent survey, three out of four parents believe social networks are not doing a good job of protecting kids’ online privacy.
The survey was conducted for Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping families find the right way to deal withthe world of media and technology.
Ninety-two percent of parents said they are concerned that children share too much information online, and 85 percent said they are more concerned about online privacy than they were five years ago. In other findings, Common Sense Media found that 68% of parents are not at all confident in search engines keeping their private information safe and secure and 71% of parents said the same about social networking sites.
The survey found a great deal of concern about the online geo-location services which find and show the exact position of somebody through the net. Ninety-one percent of parents said search engines and social networking sites should not be able to share the physical location of children with other companies unless the parents approve.
“The survey results present a clear divide between the industry’s view of privacy and the opinion of parents and kids,” Common Sense Media CEO and founder James Steyer said.
“American families are deeply worried about how their personal information is being used by technology and online companies, yet the companies appear to be keeping their heads deep in the sand,” Steyer said.
IT companies need to step up but parents, children, schools and government also need to do more, he said.
“Parents and kids have to educate themselves about how to protect their information,” he said. “Schools should teach all students and their parents about privacy protection.”
“And finally, policymakers have to update privacy policies for the 21st century,” he said. According to the survey, more than 60 percent of parents want the US Congress to update online privacy laws for children and teenagers.
小題1: What does the underlined part in Paragraph 6 mean?
A．Refusing to admit the problem.B．Refusing to work with others.
C．Trying to find a solution to the problemD．Trying to look deep into the problem.
小題2: According to James Steyer, the following organizations should make more contributions to protecting    
children’s online privacy except __________.
A．IT companiesB．GovernmentC．SchoolsD．Nonprofit Organizations
小題3:What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Parents are worried about social networks because they lead to the children’s failing grades.
B．Most US parents agree that the online geo-location services should be forbidden.
C．Most USparents will support a law that limits IT companies to using personal information.
D．US Congress has not yet passed any online privacy law for children and teenagers.
小題4: Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?
A．US Congress to Update Privacy Policies for 21st Century
B．Common Sense Media Warns Against Social Networks
C．US Parents Want Better Online Privacy Protection for Kids
D．Worry Grows for Problems Caused by Social Networks

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

From James Dean to Growing Pains, Hollywood has long had a love affair with the relationship between teens and their parents. As the fascination with this relationship attests, parents play a crucial role in the development of their children's personalities.
Teenagers learn by closely observing what people around them do. Parents are literally their first teachers and serve as role models. From hygiene to habits, from time management to personal manner, parents form the foundation of their children's characteristics. These tiny individual factors on our everyday behavior collectively constitute who we are.
A second influence occurs at the spiritual level. Parental treatment of children is reflected in children's relationship with others. For example, my dad was quite angry with my study habits a few years back and lost his temper.I clearly remember that I too would easily lose my cool and shout at people, often saying things I later regretted, in those difficult days.
Parents of my fellow classmates often tend to be anxious about the studies of their children, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their children. If we are boats weathering a storm as we navigate toward maturity, then parents should be our captains. It is as easy to lead us to shipwreck as is to take us ashore safely.
To be fair, the guidance and influence of our parents are not the sole factors in molding us. There are numerous examples of teens forging their own paths and becoming something of which their parents never dreamed. Even so, parents must be a fundamental force that positively influences their children. At their best, they can help to solve teenage problems with a respect for their children's thoughts.
小題1: James Dean and Growing Pains in the first paragraph are described as follows EXCEPT    .
A．they are about love affairs in family life
B．they are mentioned at the beginning of the passage to introduce the topic
C．they reflect a very important role parents play in childhood development
D．they are typical presentations of the relationship between teens and their parents
小題2: If parents are worried about the studies of their children, their children will      .
A．easily lose their temperB．lack self-confidence
C．follow their own pathsD．tend to shout at people
小題3: We can conclude from the passage that      .
A．teens will always be what their parents expect them to
B．parents' behavior influences their children both physically and mentally
C．the guidance and influence of parents are the only factor in molding teens
D．parents should be our captains when we teens are on boats in a storm
小題4: The passage is intended mainly for      .
A．teensB．teachersC．studentsD．parents

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