Recent research has claimed that an excess of positive ions in the air can have an ill effect on people’s physical or psychological health. What are positive ions? Well, the air is full of ions, electrically charged particles, and generally there is a rough balance between the positive and the negative charged. But sometimes this balance becomes disturbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorm, earthquakes when winds such as the Mistral, Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up of static electricity indoors from carpets or clothing made of man-made fibres, or from TV sets, duplicators or computer display screens.

When a large number of positive ions are present in the air many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, and some sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturbance. Animals are also affected, particularly before earthquakes, snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation, rats to flee from their burrows, dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey to fund a network of volunteers to watch animals in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas such as California.

Conversely, when large numbers of negative ions are present, then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea, close to waterfalls or fountains, or in any place where water is sprayed, or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea, or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls.

To increase the supply of negative ions indoors, some scientists recommend the use of ionisers: small portable machines, which generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean and refresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course, there are the detractors, other scientists, who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive ion research. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves, or on others, of a negative rich or poor environment. After all it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat.

1.What effect does exceeding positive ionization have on some people?

A.They think they are insane.

B.They feel rather bad-tempered and short-fussed.

C.They become violently sick.

D.They are too tired to do anything.

2.In accordance with the passage, static electricity can be caused by___.

A.using home-made electrical goods.

B.wearing clothes made of natural materials.

C.walking on artificial floor coverings.

D.copying TV programs on a computer.

3.A high negative ion count is likely to be found___.

A.near a pound with a water pump.

B.close to a slow-flowing river.

C.high in some barren mountains.

D.by a rotating water sprinkler.

4.What kind of machine can generate negative ions indoors?

A.Ionisers.

B.Air-conditioners.

C.Exhaust-fans

D.Vacuum pumps.

5.Some scientists believe that___.

A.watching animals to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than depending on seismography.

B.the unusual behavior of animals cannot be trusted.

C.neither watching nor using seismographs is reliable.

D.earthquake

Theareagets________________(年降雨量不足五厘米).

PartIIVocabularyandStructure

Directions:Inthisparttherearefortyincompletesentences.Eachsentenceisfollowedbyfourchoices.ChoosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentenceandthenmarkyouranswerontheAnswerSheet.

21.Theteacherthestudentsonatourthroughtheartmuseum.

A.madeB.indicatedC.forcedD.took

22.Tom’sparentsdiedwhenhewasachild,sohewasbyhisrelatives.

A.grownupB.broughtupC.raisedD.fedup

23.Hereismycard.Let’skeepin.

A.touchB.relationC.connectionD.friendship

24.Sofarthereisnoproofpeoplefromotherplanetsdoexist.

A.whichB.howC.whatD.that

25.Thenewspapersreportedyesterdayseveralontheboundariesofthesetwocountries.

A.incidentsB.happeningsC.eventsD.accidents

26.We’veworkedouttheplanandnowwemustputitinto.

A.factB.realityC.practiceD.deed

27.Hedidn’tandsohefailedtheexamination.

A.workenoughhardB.hardworkenoughC.hardenoughworkD.workhardenough

28.NotuntilMr.SmithcametoChinawhatkindofcountrysheis.

A.heknewB.hedidn’tknowC.didheknowD.hecouldn’tknow

29.Scientistssayitmaybetenyearsthismedicinewasputtouse.

A.sinceB.beforeC.afterD.when

30.Insomecountries,iscalled“equality”doesnotreallymeanequalrightsforallpeople.

A.thatB.whatC.whichD.how

31.Wedidn’tknowhistelephonenumber,otherwisewehim.

A.wouldtelephoneB.wouldhavetelephone

C.hadtelephonedD.musthavetelephoned

32.We’vemissedthelastbus,I’mafraidwehavenobuttotakeataxi.

A.wayB.possibilityC.choiceD.selection

33.Luckily,mostsheepthefloodlastmonth.

A.enduredB.survivedC.livedD.passed

34.Myparentsalwaysletmehavemyownofliving.

A.wayB.methodC.mannerD.fashion

35.Likeotherlanguageskills,readingrequirespractice.

A.themostofB.muchoftheC.mostoftheD.moreofthe

36.Itisonlythroughpracticeonewillbeabletoswimskillfully.

A.whatB.whoC.thatD.which

37.Thebrainiscapableofignoringpainmessageoftoconcentrateonotheractivities.

A.itallowedB.isitallowedC.allowedD.allowedit

38.Don’tworry,Ihavealreadythemthedecision.

A.informed;withB.informed;ofC.informed;forD.informed;that

39.Thechildwassorryhismotherwhenhearrivedatthestation.

A.tomissB.havingmissedC.missingD.tohavemissed

40.Iwonderwhyhetodiscusstheproblematthemeeting.

A.declinedB.rejectedC.refusedD.delayed

41.Youcanhangupwhatyoulikeonthesewalls.

A.bareB.emptyC.blankD.vacant

42.Accordingtoa,themajoritywouldratherhavenewspaperswithoutagovernmentthanagovernmentwithoutnewspapers.

A.electionB.campaignC.pollD.vote

43.Thepopulationofthevillagehasdecreased150to500.

A.inB.atC.byD.with

44.ItseemsthatthereisthatIcan’tdo.

A.nothingB.anythingC.everythingD.none

45.Theyareoftencaringmoreaboutanimalsthanhumanbeings.

A.accusedifB.accusedwithC.chargedofD.chargedfor

46.agoodbeginningismade,thewordishalfdone.

A.AssoonasB.WhileC.AsD.Once

47.Georgecouldnothisfoolishmistake.

A.accountinB.countonC.countforD.accountfor

48.Wecameintothisfieldlate,sowemustworkhardtothelosttime.

A.makeupforB.makeoutC.keepupwithD.putupwith

49.Thenewlawwillcameintoonthedayitispassed.

A.effectB.useC.serviceD.existence

50.Wecanseparatethemixtureintothepurechemicalcompoundsitiscomposed.

A.inwhichB.ofwhatC.ofwhichD.fromwhich

51.Mrs.Lincolnhasthatsheisunabletogetajob.

A.suchsmalleducationB.solittleeducation

C.asuchlittleeducationD.asosmalleducation

52.Shecan’tpreventherlittleboyshootingbirds.

A.from;toB.on;atC.with;upD.from;at

53.Manycountriesareincreasingtheiruseofnaturalgas,windandotherformsof.

A.energyB.sourceC.powerD.material

54.Adarkenedskyinthedaytimeisusuallyandindicationthatastormis.

A.possiblecomingB.abouttotakeplace

C.closebyD.expectedtobesevere

55.Weallknowthatspeaklouderthanwords.

A.movementsB.performanceC.operationsD.actions

56.,hecouldnotcoverthewholedistanceinfifteenminutes.

A.FastashecanB.Ashecanranfast

C.IfhecanranfastD.Sinceheranfast

57.Agriculturalproductioninthatcountryhasincreasedinrecentyears.

A.vastlyB.strikinglyC.considerablyD.extremely

58.Peterhasplannedtosomemoneyeverymonthsothathecanbuyausedcarnextyear.

A.setasideB.setupC.setinD.setalong

59.AlthoughIspoketohimmanytimes,henevertookanyofwhatIsaid.

A.attentionB.noticeC.warningD.observation

60.Theyovercameallthedifficultiesandfulfilledtheplanthreemonthsaheadoftime,issomethingwehadnotexpected.

A.thatB.whatC.itD.which

Passage 3

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:

The idea of a special day to honor mothers was first put forward in America in 1907. two years later a woman, Mrs. John Bruce Dodd, in the state of Washington proposed a similar day to honor the head of the family—the father. Her mother died when she was very young, and her father brought her up. She loved her father very much.

In response to Mrs. Dodd’s idea that same year—1909, the state governor of Washington proclaimed (宣布) the third Sunday in June Father’s Day. The idea was officially approved by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended national observance of the occasion “to establish more intimate (亲密) relations between fathers and their children, and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” The red or white rose is recognized as the official Father’s Day flower.

Father’s Day took longer to establish on a national scale than Mother’s Day, but as the idea grained popularity, tradesmen and manufacturers began to see the commercial possibilities. They encouraged sons and daughters to honor their fathers with small thank-you presents, such as a tie or pair of socks, as well as by sending greeting cards.

During the Second World War, American servicemen stationed in Britain began to request Father’s Day greeting cards to send home. This generated a response with British card publishers. Though at first the British public was slow to accept this rather artificial day, it’s now well celebrated in Britain on the third Sunday in June in much the same way as in America.

Father’s Day seems to be much less important as occasion than the Mother’s Day. Not many of the children offer their fathers some presents. But the American fathers still think they are much better fated than the fathers of many other countries, who have not even a day for their sake in name only.

11. When did Father’s Day officially begin to have national popularity?

A. 1907 B. 1909 C. 1916 D. 1924

12. Who first started the idea of holding the Father’s Day?

A. Mrs. John Bruce Dodd B. Mrs. John Bruce’s Mother

C. The government of Washington. D. Some businessmen.

13. What flower will be popular on Father’s Day?

A. Lily B. Water Lily C. Red rose or white rose D. Sunflower.

14. Which statement is true, a according to this passage?

A. It took even longer for Mother’s Day to gain national popularity.

B. The businessmen helped to make Father’s Day popular.

C. Father’s Day is only celebrated in America.

D. Father’s Day is only a trick of the businessmen to make money.

15. What was the first reaction of the British publishing towards Father’s Day?

A. They thought highly of it and accepted it at once.

B. They just accepted it at once without any hesitation.

C. They just thought it a joke.

D. They thought it was too artificial and took a long time to accept.

Part I Reading Comprehension

Directions: In this part there are four passages. Each passage is followed by four comprehension questions. Read the passage and answer the questions. Then mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.

Passage 1

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:

Ask three people to look the same window at a busy street corner and tell you what they see. Chances are you will receive three different answers. Each person sees the same scene, but each perceives something different about it.

Perceiving goes on in our minds. Of the three people who look out the window, one may say that he sees a policeman giving a motorist a ticket. Another may say that he sees a rush-hour traffic jam at the intersection. The third may tell you that he sees a woman trying to cross the street with four children in tow. For perception is the mind’s interpretation of what the senses—in this case our eyes—tell us.

Many psychologists today are working to try to determine just how a person experiences or perceives the world around him. Using a scientific approach, these psychologists set up experiments in which they can control all of the factors. By measuring and charting the results of many experiments, they are trying to find out what makes different people perceive totally different things about the same scene.

1. Seeing and perceiving are .

A. the same action

B. two separate actions

C. two actions carried on entirely by eyes

D. several actions that take place at different times

2. Perceiving is an action that takes place .

A. in our eyes

B. only when we think very hard about something

C. only under the direction of a psychologist

D. in every person’s mind

3. People perceive different things about the same scene because .

A. they see different things B. some have better eyesight

C. they cannot agree about things D. none of these

4. Which of the following is implied but not stated in the passage?

A. Psychologists do not yet know people see.

B. The experiments in which all factors are controlled are better.

C. The study of perception is going on now.

D. Perception does not involve psychological factors.

5. The best title for this selection is .

A. How We See

B. Learning about Our Minds through Science

C. What Psychologists Perceive

D. How to Because an Experimental Psychologist