Recentresearchhasclaimedthatanexcessofpositiveionsintheaircanhaveanilleffectonpeople’sphysicalorpsychologicalhealth.Whatarepositiveions?Well,theairisfullofions,electricallychargedparticles,andgenerallythereisaroughbalancebetweenthepositiveandthenegativecharged.Butsometimesthisbalancebecomesdisturbedandalargerproportionofpositiveionsarefound.Thishappensnaturallybeforethunderstorm,earthquakeswhenwindssuchastheMistral,HamsinorSharavareblowingincertaincountries.Oritcanbecausedbyabuild-upofstaticelectricityindoorsfromcarpetsorclothingmadeofman-madefibres,orfromTVsets,duplicatorsorcomputerdisplayscreens.

Whenalargenumberofpositiveionsarepresentintheairmanypeopleexperienceunpleasanteffectssuchasheadaches,fatigue,irritability,andsomesensitivepeoplesuffernauseaorevenmentaldisturbance.Animalsarealsoaffected,particularlybeforeearthquakes,snakeshavebeenobservedtocomeoutofhibernation,ratstofleefromtheirburrows,dogshowlandcatsjumpaboutunaccountably.ThishasledtheUSGeographicalSurveytofundanetworkofvolunteerstowatchanimalsinanefforttoforeseesuchdisastersbeforetheyhitvulnerableareassuchasCalifornia.

Conversely,whenlargenumbersofnegativeionsarepresent,thenpeoplehaveafeelingofwell-being.Naturalconditionsthatproducetheselargeamountsarenearthesea,closetowaterfallsorfountains,orinanyplacewherewaterissprayed,orformsaspray.Thisprobablyaccountsforthebeneficialeffectofaholidaybythesea,orinthemountainswithtumblingstreamsorwaterfalls.

Toincreasethesupplyofnegativeionsindoors,somescientistsrecommendtheuseofionisers:smallportablemachines,whichgeneratenegativeions.Theyclaimthationisersnotonlycleanandrefreshtheairbutalsoimprovethehealthofpeoplesensitivetoexcesspositiveions.Ofcourse,therearethedetractors,otherscientists,whodismisssuchclaimsandareskepticalaboutnegative/positiveionresearch.Thereforepeoplecanonlymakeuptheirownmindsbyobservingtheeffectsonthemselves,oronothers,ofanegativerichorpoorenvironment.Afterallitisdebatablewhetherdependingonseismicreadingstoanticipateearthquakesismoreeffectivethanwatchingthecat.

1.Whateffectdoesexceedingpositiveionizationhaveonsomepeople?

A.Theythinktheyareinsane.

B.Theyfeelratherbad-temperedandshort-fussed.

C.Theybecomeviolentlysick.

D.Theyaretootiredtodoanything.

2.Inaccordancewiththepassage,staticelectricitycanbecausedby___.

A.usinghome-madeelectricalgoods.

B.wearingclothesmadeofnaturalmaterials.

C.walkingonartificialfloorcoverings.

D.copyingTVprogramsonacomputer.

3.Ahighnegativeioncountislikelytobefound___.

A.nearapoundwithawaterpump.

B.closetoaslow-flowingriver.

C.highinsomebarrenmountains.

D.byarotatingwatersprinkler.

4.Whatkindofmachinecangeneratenegativeionsindoors?

A.Ionisers.

B.Air-conditioners.

C.Exhaust-fans

D.Vacuumpumps.

5.Somescientistsbelievethat___.

A.watchinganimalstoanticipateearthquakesismoreeffectivethandependingonseismography.

B.theunusualbehaviorofanimalscannotbetrusted.

C.neitherwatchingnorusingseismographsisreliable.

D.earthquake

PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION

PASSAGEONE

(1)TheearliestsettlerscametotheNorthAmericancontinenttoestablishcoloniesthatwerefreefromthecontrolsthatexistedinEuropeansocieties.Theywantedtoescapethecontrolsplacedontheirlivesbykingsandgovernments,priestsandchurches,noblemenandaristocrats.ThehistoricdecisionsmadebythosefirstsettlershavehadaprofoundeffectontheshapingoftheAmerican

character.Bylimitingthepowerofthegovernmentandthechurchesandeliminatingaformalaristocracy,theycreatedaclimateoffreedomwheretheemphasiswasontheindividual.IndividualfreedomisprobablythemostbasicofalltheAmericanvalues.Byfreedom,Americansmeanthedesireandtheabilityofallindividualstocontroltheirowndestinywithoutoutsideinterferencefromthegovernment,arulingnobleclass,thechurch,oranyotherorganizedauthority.

(2)Thereis,however,apricetobepaidforthisindividualfreedom:self-reliance.ItmeansthatAmericansbelievetheyshouldstandontheirownfeet,achievingbothfinancialandemotionalindependencefromtheirparentsasearlyaspossible,usuallybyage18or21.

(3)AsecondimportantreasonwhyimmigrantshavetraditionallybeendrawntotheUnitedStatesisthebeliefthateveryonehasaequalchancetoenteraraceandsucceedinthegame.BecausetitlesofnobilitywereforbiddenintheConstitution,noformalclasssystemdevelopedintheU.S.

(4)Thereis,however,apricetobepaidforthisequalityofopportunity:competition.Ifmuchoflifeisseenasrace,thenapersonmustruntheraceinordertosucceed;apersonmustcompetewithothers.ThepressuresofcompetitioninthelifeofanAmericanbegininchildhoodandcontinueuntilretirementfromwork.Infact,anygroupofpeoplewhodoesnotcompetesuccessfullydoesnotfit

intothemainstreamofAmericanlifeaswellasthosewhodo.

(5)AthirdreasonwhyimmigrantshavetraditionallycometotheUnitedStatesistohaveabetterlife.Becauseofitsabundantnaturalresources,theUnitedStatesappearedtobea“landofplentywheremillionscouldcometoseektheirfortunes.Thephrase“goingfromragstoriches”becameasloganfortheAmericandream.Manypeopledidachievematerialsuccess.MaterialwealthbecameavaluetotheAmericanpeople,anditalsobecameanacceptedmeasureofsocialstatus.

(6)Americanspayaprice,however,fortheirmaterialwealth:hardwork.HardworkhasbeenbothnecessaryandrewardingformostAmericansthroughouttheirhistory.Insomeways,materialpossessionsareseenasevidenceofpeople’sabilities.BarryGoldwater,acandidateforthepresidencyin1964,saidthatmostpoorpeoplearepoorbecausetheydeservetobe.MostAmericanswouldfind

thisaharshstatement,butmanymightthinktherewassometruthinit.

(7)ThesebasicvaluesdonottellthewholestoryoftheAmericancharacter.Rather,theyshouldbethoughtofasthemes,aswecontinuetoexploremorefacetsoftheAmericancharacterandhowitaffectslifeintheUnitedStates.

1.Para.4seemstosuggestthat__________.

A.Americansarebornwithasenseofcompetition

B.thepressureofcompetitionbeginswhenonestartswork

C.successfulcompetitionisessentialinAmericansociety

D.competitionresultsinequalityofopportunities

2.WhichofthefollowingmethodsdoestheauthormainlyuseinexplainingAmericanvalues?

A.Comparison

D.Causeandeffect

C.Definition

D.Processanalysis

Whatdoesthefutureholdfortheproblemofhousing?Agooddealdepends,ofcourse,onthemeaningof“future”.Ifoneisthinkingintermsofsciencefictionandthespaceage,itisatleastpossibletoassumethatmanwillhavesolvedsuchtrivialandearthlyproblemsashousing.Writersofsciencefiction,fromH.G.Wellsonwards,havehadlittletosayonthesubject.Theyhaveconveyedthesuggestionthatmenwillliveingreatcomfort,witheveryconceivableapparatustomakelifesmooth,healthyandeasy,ifnothappy.Buttheyhavenotsaidwhathishousewillbemadeof.Perhapssomenewbuildingmaterial,asyetunimagined,willhavebeendiscoveredorinventedatleast.Onemaybecertainthatbricksandmortar(泥灰，灰浆)willlonghavegoneoutoffashion.

Buttheproblemsofthenextgenerationortwocanmorereadilybeimagined.Scientistshavealreadypointedoutthatunlesssomethingisdoneeithertorestricttheworld’srapidgrowthinpopulationortodiscoveranddevelopnewsourcesoffood(orboth),millionsofpeoplewillbedyingofstarvationoratthebestsufferingfromunderfeedingbeforethiscenturyisout.Butnobodyhasyetworkedoutanyplanforhousingthesegrowingpopulations.Admittedlytheworstsituationswilloccurinthehottestpartsoftheworld,wherehousingcanbelightstructureorinbackwardareaswherestandardsaretraditionallylow.Buteventheminimumshelterrequiresmaterialsofsomekindandintheteeming,bulgingtownsthelow-standard“housing”offlattenedpetrolcansanddirtycanvasisfarmorewastefulofgroundspacethancanbetolerated.

Sincethewar,HongKonghassufferedthekindofcrisiswhichislikelytoariseinmanyotherplacesduringthenextgeneration.Literallymillionsofrefugeesarrivedtoswellthealreadygrowingpopulationandemergencystepshadtobetakenrapidlytopreventsqualor(肮脏)anddiseaseandthespreadcrime.Thecityistacklingthesituationenergeticallyandenormousblocksoftenements(贫民住宅)arerisingatanastonishingaped.ButHongKongisonlyonesmallpartofwhatwillcertainlybecomeavastproblemandnotmerelyahousingproblem,becausewhenpopulationgrowsatthisratethereareaccompanyingproblemsofeducation,transport,hospitalservices,drainage,watersupplyandsoon.NoteveryareamaygivethesameresourcesasHongKongtodrawuponandthesearchforquickerandcheapermethodsofconstructionmustnevercease.

1.Whatistheauthor’sopinionofhousingproblemsinthefirstparagraph?

A.Theymaybecompletelysolvedatsometimeinthefuture.

B.Theyareunimportantandeasilydealtwith.

C.Theywillnotbesolveduntilanewbuildingmaterialhasbeendiscovered.

D.Theyhavebeendealtwithinspecificdetailinbooksdescribingthefuture.

2.Thewriterissurethatinthedistantfuture___.

A.bricksandmortarwillbereplacedbysomeotherbuildingmaterial.

B.anewbuildingmaterialwillhavebeeninvented.

C.bricksandmortarwillnotbeusedbypeoplewhowanttheirhousetobefashionable.

D.anewwayofusingbricksandmortarwillhavebeendiscovered.

3.Thewriterbelievesthatthebiggestproblemlikelytoconfronttheworldbeforetheendofthecentury___.

A.isdifficulttoforesee.

B.willbehowtofeedtheevergrowingpopulation.

C.willbehowtoprovideenoughhousesinthehottestpartsoftheworld.

D.isthequestionoffindingenoughgroundspace.

4.Whenthewritersaysthattheworstsituationswilloccurinthehottestpartsoftheworldorinbackwardareas,heisreferringtothefactthatintheseparts___.

A.standardsofbuildingarelow.

B.onlyminimumshelterwillbepossible.

C.thereisnotenoughgroundspace.

D.thepopulationgrowthwillbethegreatest.

5.WhichofthefollowingsentencesbestsummarizesParagraph3?

A.HongKonghasfacedaseriouscrisiscausedbymillionsofrefugees.

B.HongKonghassuccessfullydealtwiththeemergencycausedbymillionsofrefugees.

C.HongKong’scrisiswasnotonlyamatterofhousingbutincludedanumberofotherproblemsofpopulationgrowth.

D.ManypartsoftheworldmayhavetofacethekindofproblemsencounteredbyHongKongandmayfinditmuchhardertodealwiththem.

ProfessorJohnsonissaid_____somesignificantadvanceinhisresearchinthepastyears.

PartIIICloze

Directions:Therearetwentyblanksinthefollowingpassage.Foreachblanktherearefourchoices.ChoosetheonethatbestfitsintothepassageandthenmarksyouranswerontheAnswerSheet.

Therearetwofactorswhichdetermineanindividual’sintelligence.Thefirstisthesortofbrainheisborn61.Humanbrainsdifferconsiderably,62beingmorecapablethanothers.63nomatterhowgoodabrainhehastobeginwith,anindividualwillhavealoworderofintelligence64hehasopportunitiestolearn.Sothesecondfactoriswhat65totheindividual—thesortofenvironmentinwhichheisbrought66.Ifanindividualishandicapped(受阻碍)67,itislikelythathisbrainwill68todevelopandhewill69attainthelevelofintelligenceofwhichheis70.

Theimportanceofenvironmentindetermininganindividual’sintelligencecanbe71bythecasehistoryoftheidenticaltwins,PeterandJohn.Whenthetwinswerethreemonthsold,theirparentsdied,andtheyareplacedin72foster(寄养)homes.Peterwasrearedbyparentsoflowintelligenceinan73communitywithpooreducational74.John,75,waseducatedinthehomeofwell-to-doparentswhohasbeentocollege.Thisenvironmental76continueduntilthetwinswere77theirlateteens,78theyweregiventeststo79theirintelligence.John’sI.Q.(智商)was125,twenty-fivepointshigherthanthe80andfullyfortypointshigherthanhisidenticalbrother.

61.A.forB.byC.withD.in

62.A.mostB.someC.manyD.few

63.A.ButB.ForC.StillD.And

64.A.ifB.thoughtC.asD.unless

65.A.refersB.appliesC.happensD.concerns

66.A.aboutB.upC.forwardD.forth

67.A.relativelyB.intelligentlyC.regularlyD.environmentally

68.A.failB.helpC.manageD.stop

69.A.everB.neverC.evenD.nearly

70.A.ableB.capableC.availableD.acceptable

71.A.demonstratedB.deniedC.neglectedD.ignored

72.A.separateB.similarC.remoteD.individual

73.A.omittedB.isolatedC.enclosedD.occupied

74.A.possibilitiesB.opportunitiesC.capacitiesD.responsibilities

75.A.moreoverB.consequentlyC.thenD.however

76.A.exceptionB.divisionC.differenceD.alteration

77.A.inB.byC.atC.for

78.A.whileB.sinceC.whenD.because

79.A.estimateB.countC.decideD.measure

80.A.averageB.commonC.usualD.ordinary