Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.
The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.
Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.
It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(變異) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.
However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.
Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太陽光紫外線), which can cause skin cancer.
But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.
Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.
The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.
51. The passage mainly tells us that ________.
A. people can not change their skin colour without any pain
B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely
C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked
D. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene
52. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. nowadays people who want to change their skin colour have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical  treatment
B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene
C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer
D. there are two kinds of genes
53. Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.
A. find the different genes of humans’
B. prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene
C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark
D. find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour
54. The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.
A. they are born light-skinned people
B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gen for melanosome production
C. they have fewer activities outside
D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin
55. The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.
A. neutral                     B. negative                   C. positive                    D. indifferent

C 篇：本文主要講述基因決定人的膚色。
51. D
52. A
53. B
54. B
55. C

51. D 主旨大意題 根據(jù)全文講述的主要內(nèi)容得知：科學(xué)家們發(fā)現(xiàn)人的膚色是由基因決定的。
52. A 推理判斷題 從文章最后一句話得知，人們改變膚色會象邁克爾·杰克遜那樣受到化學(xué)藥品對皮膚的傷害。
53. B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)第三段得知，因?yàn)榘唏R魚和人類一樣膚色中含有黑色素，所以科學(xué)家們以此來證明之。
54. B 推理判斷題 根據(jù)第四段得知，因?yàn)闅W洲人體內(nèi)黑色素的基因發(fā)生了變異，所以他們的皮膚為淺膚色。
55. C 推理判斷題 根據(jù)作者對基因決定人的膚色的論述以及文章首尾段可知，作者對此的態(tài)度是肯定的。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


B
Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now，one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it，say some scientists.?
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星)that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don't threaten us. But there are also thousands whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.?
Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one，the scientists say，we'll have a way to change its course.?
Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn't be cheap.?
Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500，000 years. Sounds pretty rare-but if one did fall，it would be the end of the world. “If we don't take care of these big asteroids，they'll take care of us，”says one scientist. “It's that simple.”?
The cure，though，might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(毀滅性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them，” said a New York Times article.
1. What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?
[ A ]. They are heavenly bodies different in composition.
[ B ].They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.
[ C ].There are more asteroids than meteoroids.
[ D ].Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.
2. We can conclude from the passage that_____ .
[ A ].while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world
[ B ].asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future
[ C ].the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime
[ D ].workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth.
3. Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this pass age?
[ A ]. Optimistic.  [ B ]. Critical.  [ C ]. Objective.  [ D ]. Arbitrary.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a planet in the Milk Way? While the trip sounds exciting, it would take years and years to reach your destination. So in the future, bedtime for astronauts may be more than a few hours of regular shut-eye. They would have to sleep for years.
European researchers are now conducting hibernation experiments. The study may help them understand whether humans could ever sleep through the years it would take for a space flight to distant planets. "If there was an effective technology, it could make deep-space travel a reality," said Mark Ayre of the European Space Agency last month.
What seems like science fiction is not completely unlikely. Researchers have been able to use chemicals to put living cells into a sleep-like state where they don't age. They have now moved on to small, non-hibernating mammals like rats. The results will be out by the end of 2004.
A major challenge is the fact that cells can be very simple systems, whereas body organs are far more complex.
"It's like moving from a simple Apple computer to a supercomputer," said Marco Biggiogera, a hibernation researcher at Italy's University of Pavia.
Just like bears and frogs, the hibernation of human beings would cause a person's metabolism (新陳代謝) to lower so they would need less energy.
Medical research, however, is just half of a space flight hibernation system.
There is the challenge of designing a suitable protective shelter. Such a shelter would provide the proper environment for hibernation, such as the proper temperature. It would also have to monitor (監(jiān)控) life functions and serve the physiological needs of the hibernator.
According to Ayre, the six-person Human Outer Planets Exploration Mission to Jupiter's moon (木星的衛(wèi)星) Callisto, could be an opportunity to use human hibernation. The mission aims to send six humans on a five-year flight to Callisto, where they will spend 30 days, in 2045.
9. European researchers are conducting hibernation experiments to ________.
A. ensure astronauts to get a complete sleep  B. find the secret of some creatures
C. make preparations for the journey to Jupiter’s moon Callisto
D. know if man can sleep for years
10. The sentence “What seems like science fiction is not completely unlikely” means ________.
A. Science fiction is people’s imagination.
B. Science fiction is imaginative, but it can be realized.
C. Things seem impossible may come true.
D. Things described in science fiction are sure to become true.
11. The passage is implied but doesn’t states that ________.
A. putting living cells into a sleep-like state is full of failure
B. Biggiogera is confident with the experiment
C. human’s hibernation needs no energy
D. medical research is the key to space flight hibernation system
12. By designing a suitable protective shelter, astronauts can ________.
A. have a good hibernation        B. lessen the pressure of traveling in space
C. feed themselves in spaceship    D. moinitor their body changes
13. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Six humans to fly to Callisto  B. Human hibernation improves health
C. Space travel attracts people   D. Deep sleep for deep space travel

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

We experience different forms of the Sun’s energy every day. We can see its light and feel its warmth. The Sun is the major source of evaporation (蒸發(fā)) of water from the oceans and lakes. Sunlight also provides the energy used by green plants to make their own food. These green plants then provide food for all organisms (生物) on the Earth.
Much of the energy that comes from the Sun never reaches the Earth’s surface. It is either reflected or absorbed by the gases in the upper atmosphere. Of the energy that reaches the lower atmosphere, 30% is reflected by clouds or the Earth’s surface. The remaining 70% warms the surface of the planet, causes water to evaporate, and provides energy for the water cycle and weather. Only a tiny part, approximately 0.023%, is actually used by green plants to produce food.
Many gases found in the atmosphere actually reflect heat energy escaping from the Earth’s surface back to the Earth. These gases act like the glass of a greenhouse in that they allow energy from the Sun to enter but prevent energy from leaving. They are therefore called greenhouse gases.
When sunlight strikes an object, some of the energy is absorbed and some is reflected. The amount reflected depends on the surface. For example, you’ve probably noticed how bright snow is when sunlight falls on it. Snow reflects most of the energy from the Sun, so it contributes to the low temperatures of winter. Dark-coloured surfaces, such as dark soil or forest, absorb more energy and help warm the surrounding air.
59. According to the passage, the root cause for weather changes on the Earth is ______.
A. the atmosphere surrounding the Earth                         
B. water from oceans and lakes
C. energy from the Sun                   
D. greenhouse gases in the sky
60. Only a small part of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface because most of it _______________.
A. absorbed by the clouds in the lower atmosphere
B. reflected by the gases in the upper atmosphere
C. lost in the upper and lower atmosphere
D. used to evaporate water from the oceans and lakes
61. We learn from the passage that _______________.
A. all living things on the Earth depend on the Sun for their food
B. a forest looks dark in winter because it absorbs solar energy
C. only 0.023% of the energy from the Sun is made use of on the Earth
D. greenhouse gases allow heat energy to escape from the Earth’s surface

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Think of London and you’re likely to think of the city’s famous bright red double-decker(雙層) buses．Think of Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok，and  the noisy tuk-tuk(三輪摩托車) may  come to mind．Picture the American city of San Francisco   and   you  might see  the city’s cable cars(電車)． 
Imagining what these cities would look like without their red  buses，tuk-tuks  or cable cars is  difficult．They  are   symbols  of these cities  that make them different from  anywhere else in  the world．However,these city  symbols，which are so 1oved by tourists，are not  always so well  loved by their  city  1eaders． City  1eaders  want  what  is  best for their  city, which often means the most modern transport．
In Thailand，Bangkok city authorities have forbidden new tuk-tuks because they consider them noisy and polluting．However, the ban has largely been unsuccessful，as it has not changed Thai people’s preference for the inexpensive tuk-tuks over taxis．
In London，the city’s first ever mayor got rid of the red double-decker buses． which he thought were old—fashioned, by selling them to other countries．His plan worked．but Londoners were upset to lose the charming old buses that they believed represented the best of their city. They made their upset felt，  when the mayor came up for re-election 1ast year．Most Londoners voted for his competitor, who promised to bring the bus back．Now, an improved version(版本)of the double-decker  bus will hit London’s streets in 2012． 
AS for San Francisco,   several cable  cars remain in  use but mainly  as tourist attractions．They   are too slow to be  used  for anything other than  scenic trips．
City transport symbols may have palace in their city people’s hearts，but it seems they are increasingly out of step with the modern world．As Londoners have proved，their continued 1ife depends on people’s willingness to fight for their survival．
5．What’s the purpose of writing the first paragraph?
A．To show the cultural significance of several cities’unique transport systems．  
B．To introduce some old-fashioned means of transport, which are symbols of three tourist cities．
C．To use the old transport symbols to attract more tourists to visit the cities．    
D．To explain why those cities are popular with tourists around the world．
6．Bangkok’s ban on tuk-tuks is unsuccessful due to ________.
A．people’s unawareness of environmental protection
B．tourists’preference for tuk-tuks over taxis
C. the lack of severe punishment for violation
D．1ocals’willingness to take the tuk-tuks  
7．The London double Decker bus is returning mainly because______.
A．it is an improved version     B．The new mayor also loves it
C. it is popular with tourists     D．Londoners fought for it
8．Which example can prove old city transport symbols are not loved by city leaders?
A．Bangkok city authorities tried to get rid of the cheap tuk-tuks．
B．The mayor who sold double-decker buses lost the re-election．
C．The new mayor will bring back improved double-decker  buses．
D．Only a few cable cars remain in use by tourists in San  Francisco．
9．We can conclude from reading the passage that_______.
A．Tourist cities will lose their charm if their old transport symbols disappear
B．A modern city should get rid of inefficient old transport
C．Old city transport symbols now face the problem of survival
D．The writer is in favor of keeping the old city transport symbols

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
In the United States there was an unusual tale telling of the daughter of a mechanic （技工）. One day while walking along the bank of a lake, the girl  36   to see 20 eggs laid by a wild goose. After some time the girl   37   the mother would not return to her eggs and she   38   to take them home. There she carefully   39   the eggs in the heat of a lamp. Several days   40   the eggs broke and the baby geese came into the   41  .
Geese are known to take the first living thing they see as their mother.   42  , to these young geese, the girl was their mother.
As they   43  , the girl was able to   44   her birds to run across the grass, but she could not teach them to   45  . The girl became increasingly worried about this, both when   46   and in her dreams. Later, she had an   47  : She would pilot a plane to guide them in   48  . She asked her father for a plane and he assembled（組裝）a small aircraft for her.
Caring about   49   safety, the father decided to pilot the plane himself. However, the birds did not   50   or follow him, and   51   slept in the grass.
One day, the girl   52   into the plane, started it and soon left the   53  . Seeing their mother take to the air, the birds   54   flapped（拍打）their wings and   55  . She flew the plane freely in the sky, her young birds following.
小題1:
A．managedB．a(chǎn)ttemptedC．happenedD．supposed
小題2:
A．realizedB．expectedC．imaginedD．a(chǎn)dmitted
小題3:
A．helpedB．decidedC．a(chǎn)ffordedD．meant
小題4:
A．placedB．protectedC．treatedD．examined
小題5:
A．a(chǎn)goB．outC．laterD．long
小題6:
A．familyB．lakeC．homeD．world
小題7:
A．ButB．AlsoC．ThusD．Still
小題8:
A．increasedB．improvedC．roseD．grew
小題9:
A．a(chǎn)skB．leadC．wantD．a(chǎn)llow
小題10:
A．flyB．raceC．swimD．sing
小題11:
A．a(chǎn)sleepB．a(chǎn)wayC．a(chǎn)roundD．a(chǎn)wake
小題12:
A．ideaB．opinionC．explanationD．excuse
小題13:
A．skyB．heavenC．flightD．plane
小題14:
A．hisB．herC．theirD．its
小題15:
A．respectB．rememberC．recognizeD．receive
小題16:
A．soB．insteadC．hardlyD．too
小題17:
A．climbedB．lookedC．reachedD．fell
小題18:
A．houseB．floorC．waterD．ground
小題19:
A．secretlyB．disappointedlyC．patientlyD．eagerly
小題20:
A．looked awayB．set outC．went byD．turned back

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀下列材料，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A. B. C. D）中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題紙上將該選項(xiàng)標(biāo)號涂黑。
A
Like many other parts of our lives today, education has become a global enterprise. In microcosm(微觀世界), my school is proof of just how global. Monkseaton High School is an ordinary state-funded school of 850 students in the unfashionable part of northeastern England. Over the past seven years it has sent 12 students to American universities --- two of them to Harvard. Monkseaton has, in turn, attracted students from other countries, including Germany and Latvia. Monkseaton now almost routinely receives inquiries from students in Eastern European countries. Obviously, learning English is a big draw, but his pattern of student movement was unheard of five years ago.
The brain drain is a universal phenomenon, and countries that don’t face up to the new reality will be losing some of their most precious resources. The northeast of England is its poorest region, and has experienced a severe loss of highly qualified professionals-to-be. Some of the most able 18-year-olds are going to other parts of Britain, even to other countries. What is happening here is happening to Britain as a whole. Most noticeably, there is a growing trend of British students taking degrees in American universities. This year the number will break the psychological barrier of 1,000 students for the first time.
And what is happening at the secondary-school level is happening to higher education. Wherever they come from, today’s students have a very different perspective on education from their parents. Because of television, the Internet and their travels, these students see the world as a much smaller place than their parents once did. They are more confident in accepting the challenge of moving from one country to another, from one culture to another; in many cases they can even apply to schools over the Internet. Students are also more aware of the overall cost of education and are looking for value for money. Plus, for many, education linked to travel is a better option than education at home.
小題1:  Why does the author say education has become a global enterprise?
A．Monkseaton High School used to be a very unfashionable school in the Northeast England.
B．Monkseaton High School is now one of the state-funded middle schools in England.
C．Monkseaton High School has sent two top students to the Harvard University in U.S.
D．There is now an extensive exchange of students among different countries.
小題2: What can we infer about northeast England from the passage?
A．It is one of the poorest regions in England.
B．It has experienced a severe loss of professionals.
C．It will face a more serious brain drain in the near future.
D．It is losing its young talents to other parts of the world.
小題3: According to the passage, students today have different perspective from their parents on the following EXCEPT that _________________.
A．education linked to travel is much better than education at home
B．overall cost of education should be considered against money value
C．moving from one culture to another is a welcomed challenge
D．the Internet is more popular and easier to access in the near future
小題4: The students today tend to see the world as a much smaller place NOT because __________.
A．they are having more exposure to the television programs
B．they are having easier access to the Internet
C．they are having frequent travels to the other parts of the world
D．they are having better communication with their parents
小題5: The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to __________.
A．tell us the benefit of globalization of education
B．a(chǎn)nalyze the causes for students’ moving trend in Great Britain
C．criticize the universal phenomenon of brain drain worldwide
D．draw attention to students’ moving from one country to another

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“You are going abroad and will live there? Oh, wonderful! You are so lucky.”
Perhaps your family and friends said similar things to you when you left home. But is it true all the time? Is your life in the new country always wonderful and exciting?
Specialists say that it isn’t that easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” (沖擊) is the term specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. “There are three stages of culture shock,” say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers adapt to their surroundings and finally enjoy their life there.
Culture shock arises from many obvious factors. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation may be difficult to work out. Even the simplest things become headaches. Still worse, the language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self­image.
Culture shock leads to a feeling of disorientation (迷惘). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create and escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience are the long term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
小題1:When people move to a new country, they ________.
A．find their new life always wonderful and exciting.
B．dislike the new surroundings from the beginning.
C．quickly get accustomed to the new culture there.
D．will get used to the new life with certain difficulty.
小題2:Based on the passage, which of the following results from culture shock?
A．weather conditions and customs
B．public service and transportation
C．feeling homesick and disoriented
D．language communication issues
小題3:According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, ________.
A．the fewer difficulties you will meet with abroad
B．the more problems you may have to face abroad
C．the greater success you are likely to make abroad
D．the less homesick you will eventually feel abroad
小題4:Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?
A．Cultural shock affects and surprises those who live in a new culture.
B．A new culture makes everything difficult except the simplest things.
C．Since culture shock is painful, we can never get over it completely.
D．Escaping by staying inside does solve the problem of culture shock.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的七個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。
The Importance of Accessibility Awareness
At a recent Teen Leadership of Jewish Family Services meeting, people with disabilities talked about their lives.   小題1:  However, what amazed me most was the great importance of education about handicap accommodations (殘疾人便利設(shè)施).
One school-teacher who is blind, and a woman who has used a wheelchair all her life are two important members of the National Group for Disabled Persons, devoted to raising awareness about disabilities.   小題2:  These include handicap parking spots, handrails, and wheelchair ramps. One big concern is the people who take advantage of aids, such as handicap parking spaces.   小題3:  And the meeting focused on educating the public.
Some handicap spots have extra room next to them, marked with the “No Parking” signs. “As long as I'm not in the spot, I can take the no-parking area next to it,” some people say. However, the woman who uses a wheelchair disagrees to this. The space exists to allow someone in a wheelchair to have room to get in or out of their car.   小題4:  
Some walkways have handrails next to them to help those who require extra assistance. Whether it is a blind person seeking guidance or an elderly person seeking support, the rail is there for walking. Sometimes the rail is blocked, by a parked bicycle for instance, and consequently made useless.   小題5:  People who are informed of the rail’s use would be less likely to mistake it for a bike rack.
Meeting some of the people who are affected by the lack of education about accommodations made me see that there is work to be done. If more people were educated about the proper uses of accommodations, there would be fewer challenges for people with physical disabilities.
A．Accommodations will vary according to the needs of the disabled.
B．As with the parking spot, this is more likely a case of lack of education.
C．They educate about all the accommodations for people with disabilities.
D．Improvement must be made so that disabled people can fully participate.
E. If there is a car in that space, the handicap parking spot is no longer useful.
F. So people without disabilities need to be educated about these accommodations.
G. I was amazed to hear about the challenges faced by people with physical disabilities.

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