Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.
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 color of a dark-striped zebrafish（斑馬魚） to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin (黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.
It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (變異) in the gene for melanin 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 color, said Cheng.
The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.
小題1: The passage mainly tells us that ________.
A．people can not change their skin color without any pain
B．the new discovery could lead to research into ways to change skin color safely
C．pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin color as he liked
D．scientists have found out that people’s skin color is determined by the gene
小題2: It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A．nowadays people who want to change their skin color 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
小題3:Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to ________.
A．find the different genes of humans’
B．prove the humans’ skin color is determined by the pigment gene
C．find out the reason why the Africans’ skin color is dark
D．find out the ways of changing people’s skin color
小題4: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 gene for melanin production
C．they have fewer activities outside
D．they pay much attention to protecting their skin
小題5:The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.
A．neutral（中立的）B．negativeC．positiveD．indifferent（冷漠）

小題1:D
小題1:A
小題1:B
小題1:B
小題1:C
本文主要講述基因決定人的膚色。
1. 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。
2. A 推理判斷題 從文章最后一句話得知，人們改變膚色會(huì)象邁克爾·杰克遜那樣受到化學(xué)藥品對(duì)皮膚的傷害。
3. 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。
4 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。
5. C 推理判斷題 根據(jù)作者對(duì)基因決定人的膚色的論述以及文章首尾段可知，作者對(duì)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

About 21,000 young people in 17 American States don’t attend classes in school buildings. Instead, they receive their elementary (初等) and high school education by working at home on computers . The Center for Education Reform says the United States has 67 public “cyberschools,” and that is about twice as many as two years ago.
The money for students to attend a cyberschool comes from the governments of the states where they live. Some educators say cyberschools receive money that should support traditional public schools . They also say it is difficult to know if students are learning well.
Other educators praise this new form of education for letting students work at their own speed. These people say cyberschools help students who were unhappy or unsuccessful in traditional schools . They say learning at home by computers ends long bus rides for children who live far from school.
Whatever the judgment of cyberschools , they are getting more and more popular.
For example , a new cyberschool called Commonwealth Connections Academy will take in students this fall. It will serve children in the state of Pennsylvania from ages five through thirteen.
Children get free equipment for their online education. This includes a computer, a printer, books and technical services. Parents and students talk with teachers by telephones or by sending emails through their computers when necessary.
Students at cyberschools usually do not know one another. But 56 such students who finished studies at Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter school recently met for the first time. They were guests of honor at their graduation.
小題1:What do we know from the text about students of a cyberschool?
A．They have to take long bus rides to school.
B．They study at home rather than in classrooms.
C．They receive money from traditional public schools.
D．They do well in traditional school programs.
小題2:What is a problem with cyberschools?
A．Their equipment costs a lot of money.
B．They get little support from the state government
C．It is hard to know students’ progress in learning.
D．The students find it hard to make friends.
小題3: Cyberschools are getting popular because    
A．they are less expensive for students
B．their students can work at their own speed
C．their graduates are more successful in society
D．they serve students in a wider age range
小題4:We can infer that the author of the text is _________.
A．unprejudiced(無偏見的) in his description of cryberschools .
B．excited about the future of cryberschools
C．doubtful about the quality of cryberschools
D．disappointed at the development of cryberschools.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A recent online poll (民意調(diào)查) asked kids what they hated most about school. “Classes are boring” came in first. “Too much homework” was a close second. Since all activities remain interesting for only so long, too much homework can lead to ennui. So, why are some kids getting homework overload? Teachers give two reasons. First, they say, the government now requires schools to meet higher-than-ever achievement goals for students. If students don’ t succeed, the school faces punishment. Second, many parents want their children to be able to get into the best colleges and universities. These parents believe homework is a way to ensure that students are learning as much as possible.
People who favor homework argue that it can have many beneficial effects. They claim it can help students develop good study habits. Homework can help students recognize that learning can occur at home as well as at school. It can help develop their independent learning and responsible character traits(性格特征).
But studies show that middle school students doing 60 to 90 minutes of homework a night are doing just as well in school as those doing more than 90 minutes. And homework can have negative effects. Homework can deny students access to leisure(休閑) activities that also teach important skills. For example, sports teams teach cooperation and leadership, in addition to helping kids stay physically active. Another problem with too much homework is that parents can get too involved. They can put too much pressure on their kids.
So what should be done? Good homework assignments in the proper amount will have positive effects. Too much homework, however, will have negative effects. The bottom line: Students in grades three through six should do no more than 30 to 60 minutes of homework each night.
小題1:The underline word “ennui” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “______” .
A．relaxationB．fancyC．boredomD．intelligence
小題2: According to Paragraph 1, the kids are given much homework because ________.
A．schools are evaluated in terms of students’ achievement.
B．the government doesn’t take the problem seriously
C．it is a good way to improve the students’ ability
D．time will be made full use of in this way
小題3:Those who are in favor of homework think that _______.
A．homework helps students to succeed
B．it’s good for kids to help each other in learning
C．parents are a great help when kids do homework at home
D．homework helps children to learn independently
小題4: Which of the following is NOT a negative effect of too much homework?
A．Kids have little time to do leisure activities.
B．There is a lack of sleeping time.
C．The chances of learning other skills are lost.
D．Kids are under pressure from their parents.
小題5: The author’s purpose in writing the passage is _______.
A．to criticize the school teachers
B．to attract public attention to kids’ study
C．to offer more help to today’s kids
D．to call for proper amounts of homework

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Listening to a radio broadcast in a foreign language is difficult for many of us. We may have studied the language for several years, and are able to read it, perhaps even write in it. But listening and understanding the spoken language require special skills. Some people have a natural ability that helps them to learn a language quickly, while others must study for a long time. Everyone, however, can improve his or her listening skills with practice.
We are good listeners in our own language because we have had years of practice. We understand the grammar and the language. We know what to expect a person to say to us in almost any situation. We have been in similar situations many times, and we have heard it all before. We can understand it, even if we do not listen carefully.
But this is not true with a foreign language. We must listen with our full attention. And we must try not to let the cultural style of our language affect our understanding of the foreign language. Listening to a foreign language broadcast is easier if we know something about it. There are clues that can help us. One clue is the time of a day. Morning programs usually contain many short items of news, information or entertainment. The items are short because most of us are getting ready to go to work in the morning. Often we do not have time to listen to long programs. Evening programs are different. There is time for more details about the subjects discussed.
We can get a clue about the program from the music at the beginning, but we must be familiar with the music of the foreign culture. The kind of music—serious and slow, or fast and light—can tell us what kind of program to expect. The name of the program can give us good information about what it will contain.
Another good clue is the broadcaster. The more we listen to the same person, the easier it will be to understand him. His speaking style will become familiar to us. Further, the broadcaster provides clues to the organization of the broadcast at the beginning of the program. The broadcaster usually gives us the highlights of the program to prepare us for the details that will follow.
小題1:We are good listeners in our own language because ________.
A．we have a natural ability of learning languageB．our own language is much easier
C．we listen to our own language more carefullyD．we have practiced it for years
小題2: If you don’t have enough time, you can listen to ________.
A．evening programs B．programs with soft music
C．morning programs D．familiar programs
小題3:You can know the information of the program according to ________.
A．its music B．the broadcaster
C．its name D．the time of the program

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Mr. Grey was the manager of a small office in London. He lived in the country, and came up to work by train. He liked walking from the station to his office unless it was raining, because it gave him some exercise.
One morning he was walking along the street when a stranger stopped him and said to him, “You may not remember me, sir, but seven years ago I came to London without a penny in my pockets, I stopped you in this street and asked you to lend me some money, and you lent me £ 5, because you said you were willing to take a chance so as to give a man a start on the way to success.”
Mr. Grey thought for a few minutes and then said, “Yes, I remember you. Go on with your story!” “Well,” answered the stranger, “are you still willing to take a chance?”
小題1:How did Mr. Grey get to his office?
A．He went up to work by train.
B．He walked to his office.
C．He went to his office on foot unless it rained.
D．He usually took a train to the station and then walked to his office if the weather was fine.
小題2: Mr. Grey liked walking from the station to his office because ________.
A．he couldn’t afford the busesB．he wanted to save money
C．he wanted to keep in good healthD．he could do some exercises on the way
小題3:Mr. Grey had been willing to lend money to a stranger in order to______.
A．give him a start in lifeB．help him on the way to success
C．make him richD．gain more money
小題4:One morning the stranger recognized Mr. Grey, and_______.
A．wanted to return Mr. Grey the money
B．a(chǎn)gain asked Mr. Grey for money
C．would like to make friends with him
D．told Mr. Grey that he had been successful since then

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Teaching and research are supported by the University’s extensive collections—the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Collection of Musical Instruments. All the collections are open to the public.
Yale University Art Gallery
The Yale University Art Gallery, founded in 1832, today houses a collection that has grown to rank with those of the major public art museums in the United States. Its two connected buildings house ancient, medieval, and Renaissance art, Near and Far Eastern art, archaeological material from the University’s excavations (古跡), Pre-Columbian and African art, works of European and American masters from actually every period, and a rich collection of modern art. Across the street, the Yale Center for British Art, which was opened in 1977, holds the largest collection of British art and illustrated books anywhere outside the United Kingdom.
Peabody Museum of Natural History
Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, founded in 1866, contains one of the great scientific collections in North America. Among its holdings are the University’s comprehensive mineralogical and ornithological collections, the second-largest repository of dinosaur artifacts in the United States, and the largest undamaged Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus 雷龍) in the world. The Peabody is truly a working museum, where public exhibition, research, conservation, teaching, and learning intersect (貫穿).
Yale Center for British Art
Institutions like the Art Gallery, the Center for British Art, and the Peabody Museum hold only a portion of the treasures in the University’s collections. From paintings by Picasso, to pterodactyl (翼龍) remains, to a 1689 tenor viol in the Collection of Musical Instruments, Yale’s possessions are meant to be accessible to the communities they enrich.
Collection of Musical Instruments
Exhibitions are also frequently mounted (裱貼) at the following venues on campus: Art + Architecture Gallery (School of Architecture), Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Green Hall Gallery (School of Art), and Sterling Memorial Library, including the Arts of the Book Collection.
小題1:Which of the following cannot be found in the Yale University Art Gallery?
A．Near and Far Eastern art.
B．Pre-Columbian and African art
C．British art and illustrated books.
D．Works of European and American masters.
小題2:Where will you go if you want to enjoy dinosaur artifacts?
A．Peabody Museum of Natural History.
B．Collection of Musical Instruments.
C．Yale University Art Gallery.
D．Yale Center for British Art.
小題3:Which of the following has the longest history according to the passage?
A．Yale Center for British Art.
B．Yale University Art Gallery.
C．Peabody Museum of Natural History.
D．A musical instrument named tenor viol.
小題4:We can learn from the passage that in Yale, ______.
A．collections are partly open to the public
B．there are many venues just for exhibitions
C．collections are from art museums in the US
D．exhibitions are frequently mounted on campus
小題5:What is the text mainly about?
A．Introduction to Yale University.B．Introduction to collections in Yale.
C．Introduction to venues in Yale.D．Introduction to art works in Yale.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Who cares if money can’t buy you love? But it can still be your best friend forever．That’s one of the surprising findings in a new research paper, “The Power of Money”，published in me journal Psychological Science．
Like any best friend forever，money demonstrated to researchers its ability to soothe us，reduce our sense of social exclusion and even reduce life’s painful moments．
“I was surprised” says Katherine Vohs，one of the researchers and professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management．“The findings were surprising because no one had connected the meaning of money to pain．The money wasn’t buying the subjects more friends；it was only psychologically helpful.”
In the research ,students were told they would be participating in a test of finger dexterity(敏捷度)．One group was given some paper money to count，while the other group was given blank pieces of paper．Once the counting was complete, all the test subjects were asked to dip their fingers into bowls of water heated to 122 degrees—roughly the temperature of a very hot bath．
Result? Those who had been counting money reported less pain than those who had not．Subjects also were asked about their feelings．Those who handled actual money reported feeling stronger even 10 minutes after they put down the cash．
Combined with previous experiments，the findings confirmed what researchers have long doubted，that money acts as a general panacea(萬能藥)in the brain，giving us social self-confidence and reducing physical pain without having to spend a dime on aspirin．
But can we get the same effect by using credit cards? “No，credit cards do not have the same effect，” Vohs says．“They are scary for most people，and they in fact represent debt m many ways．”The findings could have an interesting effect in the business world, where recent trends have been to issue non-monetary rewards and bonuses instead of what was thought of as “cold, hard cash”．
小題1:The underlined word “soothe” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to“____________” .
A．encourage B．remind C．calmD．trust
小題2:What’s Katherine Vohs’s attitude towards the result of the study?
A．He found it totally unexpected．
B．He had no doubt about it．
C．He thought it needed further experiments．
D．He thought it was not convincing．
小題3:What do we know about the students involved in the study?
A．They were divided into two groups according to their ages．
B．One group was given paper money while the other was given coins．
C．They were holding the money while dipping fingers into hot water．
D．Both groups were asked to dip fingers into hot water．
小題4:We can 1earn from the passage that_________．
A．the effect of money can only last until we put it down
B．money is both psychologically and socially helpful to us
C．the result of the research hasn’t been confirmed（證實(shí)） by experts
D．credit cards have the same effect on us as money
小題5:The last paragraph suggests that___________．
A．the recent trend in the business world is to give cash as rewards
B．employers should give non-monetary rewards to employees
C．cash is a better way to reward employees than credit cards
D．more and more employees prefer non-monetary rewards to cash

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The UK has a well­respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all， sometimes it can be confusing.
October is usually the busiest month in the college calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends， join lots of clubs and settle into university life.
However， having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind， the prospect(前景) of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve­wracking(令人頭痛的). Where do you start？ Who should you make friends with？ Which clubs should you join？
Luckily， there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here are some top advice from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week：
●Learn rules. Make sure you know British social manners. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
●Be kind. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.
●Be sociable. The more active you are， the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves their room.
●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning and effort， Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your experience to next year’s new recruits.
小題1:Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage？
A．October is generally the busiest month for universities.
B．It’s a good idea to put a doorstop in your suitcase.
C．A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier.
D．The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week.
小題2:The underlined word “recruits” in the last paragraph refers to 　　　　.
A．coursesB．freshersC．neighborsD．challenges
小題3:We can infer from the 4th paragraph that 　　　　.
A．the newcomers usually miss the days living at home
B．most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities
C．many freshers are worried about how to fit university life
D．a(chǎn)ll the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs
小題4:Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy？
A．To pass the busy university life.
B．To help make friends with other freshers.
C．To show yourself a drinker as others.
D．To pass the time in a happy way.
小題5:The main purpose of the passage is to 　　　　.
A．tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities
B．introduce something about higher education system of the UK
C．discuss something about the Freshers’ Week in the UK
D．a(chǎn)dvise the freshmen how to behave well in universities

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Disposing of the garbage we produce every day is a major problem in cities around the world. In the United States, over 160 million tons of garbage is produced every year. Ten percent is recycled, ten percent is burned, and the rest is put in landfills. But finding land for new landfills is becoming more difficult.
A city that has solved this problem in an unusual way is Machida in Tokyo. They have developed a totally new way of dealing with garbage. The key to the operation is that people should work together. Families must divide their garbage into six groups:
1. garbage that can be easily burned, such as kitchen and garden trash
2. garbage that doesn’t burn easily, such as plastic tools and plastic toys
3. products that are poisonous or that cause pollution, such as batteries
4. bottles and glass containers that can be recycled
5. metal containers that can be recycled
6. large items, such as furniture and bicycles
    The items in Groups 1 to 5 are collected on different days. Large items are only collected upon request. Then the garbage is taken to a centre that looks like a clean new office building or hospital. Inside the centre, special equipment is used to sort and deal with garbage. Almost everything can be reused: garden or kitchen trash becomes fertilizer; garbage that can burn is burned to produce electricity; metal containers and bottles are recycled; and old furniture, clothing, and other useful items are cleaned, repaired, and resold cheaply or given away. The work provides employment for the disabled and gives them a chance to learn new skills.
Nowadays, officials from cities around the world visit Machida to see whether they can use some of these ideas and techniques to solve their own garbage problems.
小題1: Each year people in the U.S.A. have to find places to put in _______ million tons of garbage.
A.160           B.128               C.16                    D.32
小題2:George’s family has the following garbage: wooden chairs, empty tins and branches. Into which group should he put the garbage?
A．Group 6, Group 5, Group 1.B．Group 1, Group 3, Group 2.
C．Group 6, Group 5, Group 2. D．Group 6, Group 4, Group 1.
小題3: From the text we know that ________ .
A．those who are working at the garbage disposal centre are disabled persons.
B．without people’s cooperation, the garbage disposal project would be a failure.
C．the items in Group1 and Group6 are not collected on the same day.
D．the garage is taken to a clean new office building for disposal.

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