With the theme "Cherishing the earth's resources, transforming the mode of development and living a low-carbon lifestyle," China's Ministry of Land and Resources held a ceremony this Thursday to mark the 41st World Earth Day, aims to generate new ideas of resource-saving, especially among the younger generation. In fact, Chinese young urbanities are turning to the seemingly trendy low-carbon lifestyle.
But for the country as a whole to achieve a low-carbon economy, it could mean ordinary people paying more for electricity, water, gas or simply every purchase. Of necessity, a low-carbon economy would be the basis of China's economic growth, yet it comes with a high price tag. Everybody longs for fresh air, clean water and healthy surroundings. But, who is going to pay for that?
For those who are still working hard for the basic necessities of life, sharing the cost of a greener environment can be taxing. For those who are already victimized by environmental pollution, additional expenditure for saving the environment is hard to bear. Behind all the lofty goals and loaded phrases of climate change negotiations, in everyday terms, the Chinese want to know whether companies will make them pay the cost of saving energy or whether government would come up with new levies.
They have reasons to worry. The recent hike in the charges of utilities, such as natural gas, water and electricity, have led to widespread public grievance(抱怨,牢騷), for the increases were imposed without proper public hearing. Besides the practice of monopoly State-owned enterprises raising prices at will does not seem to bode well for a low-carbon economy.
The government has a responsibility to strengthen regulation of utility charges and make the pricing mechanism more transparent. In the age of the low-carbon economy, the Chinese government needs to strike a new balance between public welfare and business competitiveness.
How far the initiatives toward a low-carbon economy succeed depends on whether they truly benefit ordinary people and is accepted by them. The majority cannot sacrifice their life to build a greener world for the few.
64.The author probably agrees to call on ____________.
A. more and more citizens to devote themselves to the “Low-carbon economy” for the sake of
our earth immediately
B. the rich to generally pay for the bill, which aims at saving our planet.
C. our government to take proper measures to make the “Low-carbon economy” benefit more
people
D. all the big enterprises to reduce their prices to build a greener world
65. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
A. Some people can’t afford their everyday expenses, let alone pay for a better environment.
B. Putting forward the “Low-carbon economy” costs much.
C. The balance between public welfare and business competitiveness in China now is not that
good for the “Low-carbon economy”.
D. Now that it’s hard for us to make the “Low-carbon economy” into practice, our government
should put it to an end.
66. The “Low-carbon economy” __________.
A. is beneficial only to the rich people
B. has led to widespread public grievance
C. can be realized when pigs fly in the sky
D. cannot be called success before it has been fully considered
67. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. China reaches out for younger generation to promote low-carbon lifestyle.
B. Low-carbon economy, acceptable or not?
C. Who will get the most benefit from the Low-carbon economy?
D. Put forward the new policy and save the world.

CONGRATULATIONS
We’ve organized the following information to help you prepare for your arrival at Boston College. Please feel free to contact our Admissions Office at any time over the coming months with any questions.
Your First Steps…
Please return the Acknowledgment Form sent with your acceptance letter to Dean Robert Howe, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, McGuinn Hall 221,140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
■For Ph. D. Acceptances and Master’s Acceptances with funding, we ask you to reply by April 25, 2008.
■For Master’s Acceptances without funding and Non-degree Acceptances, we ask you to reply by May 31, 2008.
■You should also contact your department to receive any department information.
Over the Coming Months…
Get informed about services around campus. We have provided links for you to the following offices.
■Student Services
After you return your Acknowledgment Form, you should receive a letter containing your BC Username and Eagle ID number. With this information you can reach email and Agora. In Agora, BC’s online community, you can update your student information, check your student account, and register (登記) for classes.
The Office of Student Services issues (發(fā)行) your BC Eagle One Card. This ID card acts as your campus library card and meal card.
Student Services’ website offers a complete listing of courses for the school year, as well as student forms and other important student information. The Office of Student Services also handles billing.
■Housing
…
CLICK HERE for more information.
If we can be of any more help to you, just contact us. Congratulations again! We look forward to you joining our University!
68. The above page can most probably be read _________.
A. on the Boston College website            B. in the Boston College newspaper
C. on BC Eagle One Card                  D. at Student Services
69. The information above is particularly useful for those ________.
A. who want to apply for Boston College   
B. who want to know about Boston College
C. who’ve been admitted to Boston College 
D. who’ve decided to pay a visit to Boston College
70. If you want to study for your master’s degree with funding, you will have to _______.
A. return your Acknowledgment Form by May 31, 2008
B. send back your Acknowledgment Form by April 25, 2008
C. email your Acknowledgment Form to Admissions Office by May 31, 2008
D. return your Acknowledgment Form to Student Services by April 25, 2008
71. If you want to decide what courses for the school year you’d better _________.
A. call up the Office of Student Services   B. get in touch with the Admissions Office
C. read your acceptance letter            D. visit Student Services’ website

"Friendship is one of the basic bonds between human beings. While the characteristics of friendship might vary from one country to another, people from all cultures not only enjoy friends but need them.
　　Many studies have shown that teenagers who have no friends often suffer from psychological disorders. It has been shown that teenagers, perhaps more than any other age group, need companionship and a sense of belonging. The negative consequences of loneliness have also been observed among the elderly. The death of a spouse often leaves a widow or a widower totally bereft. If, however, they are surrounded by friends and relatives and if they are able to express their feelings, they are more likely to recover from their grief。
　　“No man is an island.” In other words, we are all parts of society. We all need the love, admiration, respect and moral support of other people. If we are fortunate, our friends will provide us with all of these necessary aspects of life.
　　As most people observe, there are many levels of friendship. The degree or intensity of friendship varies depending on the personality of the individuals involved and the context of the relationships. Outgoing persons enjoy being surrounded by many people whereas shy persons are perhaps content with fewer but more intense friendships。
　　Everyone is not equally open with all their friends. The degree of closeness is determined by many factors. Close friends can be formed at any stage in one’s life but they are usually very rare. Not very many people have more than a few really close friends. Irrespective of the level of closeness, all friendships are based on reciprocity（互惠）, honesty and a certain amount of love and affection。
72 “No man is an island”(Line 1, Para. 3) implies that ______________。
　　A. everyone is a part of an island               B. man cannot be an island
　　C. everyone is just a part of society     D. society is an island
73. The degree of closeness of friendship mainly depends on_____________。
　　A. age            B. belonging          C. personality               D. culture
74. The author thinks that close friends_____________________。
　　A. can be easily formed when one is young         B. cannot be long-lasting
　　C. are not rare for everyone                               D. are rare for most people
75 .The word “irrespective”(Last sentence, Para. 5) means______________________。
A.not respecting             B. dishonoring              C. regardless.  D. considering

Below is adapted from an English dictionary

figure/fīg ? / noun, verb                            ●noun 1. [C, often pl.] a number representing particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade /sales figures 2. [C] a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary 3. [pl] (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc 4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history. 5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly 6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it 7. [C] the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure 8. [C] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating [IDM] be/become a figure of fun: be/become sb. that others laugh at cut a…figure: (of a person) to have a particular appearance He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket. put a figure on sth.: to say the exact price or number of sth.

a fine figure of man/woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect  figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority) ●verb 1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning. 2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn’t seem to figure at all. 3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth.: We figured that attendance at 150,000. [PHRV] 1. figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel? 2. figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home too late. 3. figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost? [IDM] It/That figures! (informal): That seems reasonable, logical and what I expect.

60. I didn’t really mean my partner is a snake; it was just a ______.
A. figure of eight     B. figure head     C. figure of speech     D. a fine figure   
61. ---She was coming late again.
---______! That’s typical of her.
A. It figures her out   B. It figures       C. It cuts a poor figure  D. She is a figure of fun
62. What does “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure.” mean?
A. add the numbers   B. have sports     C. try not to get fat    D. watch games

China has become an increasingly appealing market for Hollywood films, so it was inevitable that Academy Award-winning director James Cameron would touch down in Beijing Wednesday to promote his latest big-budget movie, Avatar.
During his 20-hour stay in the city, he shared with local media and some lucky fans details of his new film and shared his insights on China's growing film industry.
Having toured numerous countries for the promotion of Avatar since the film globally premiered on December 10, Cameron said he anticipated the visit to China for some time and apologized for his hoarse and tired voice.
"It is so sad for a director not being able to shout," he joked at the beginning of the press conference Wednesday afternoon, announcing that the 3D science fiction film will open in China on January 4.
Cameron collected 360 million yuan (US$52.7 million) at the box office in China with his blockbuster Titanic in 1998, a record that held for ten years until it was broken by Transformers in 2008.
Considering that another computer-generated, live action flick, 2012, has sold more movie tickets in China than in the US, the director said he is positive about Avatar's performance in China.
"Our partner here, the China Film Group, has given us great confidence," he explained, saying that the number of 3D screens has grown from 500 to 600 in the past month, a never-seen-before growth in Chinese mainland.
China is second only to the US as the country with the most 3D screens. Cameron said the screening of Avatar in China has specific importance as a test of future 3D film development.
"I'm very interested in the 3D film market in China. I cannot predict the box office results here, but I look forward to the test results." 
63. Cameron is hopeful about Avatar’s performance in China because ____.
A. Avatar is a newly-released 3D movie
B. Transformer held the record of box office in China
C. Avatar is directed by him alone
D. 2012 had a higher box office in China than in the US
64. Which of the following has the closest meaning to “anticipated” in Paragraph 3?
A. participated         B. paid                  C. expected       D. delayed
65. Why did Cameron come to China?
A. To promote his latest film Avatar.
B. To test the future development of 3D film in China.
C. To show his interest in the 3D film market in China.
D. To make a 20-hour trip in Beijing.
66. The passage is most probably taken from ____.
A. a science book            B. a newspaper       C. a story book     D. a magazine

About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table, I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked, “So, how have you been?” And the boy — who could not have been more than seven or eight years old — replied, “Frankly, I’ve been feeling a little depressed lately.”
This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were “depressed”, that is, in low spirits, until we were in high school.
Undoubtedly a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to.
Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why?
Human development is depended not only on born biological states, but also on patterns of gaining social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new social positions. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages; traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders.
In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation (揭示) machine has been equipped in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information to all viewers alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more attractive moving pictures.
Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information which children will gain. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials.
67. According to the author, feeling depressed is ______.
A. a sure sign of a mental problem in a child
B. a mental state present in all humans, including children
C.something that cannot be avoided in children’s mental development
D. something hardly to be expected in a young child
68. Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world ______.
A.through connection with society      B. gradually and under guidance
C. naturally without being taught        D. through watching television
69. According to the author, that today’s children seem adultlike results from ______.
A. the widespread influence of television
B. the poor arrangement of teaching content
C. the fast pace of human scientific development
D. the rising standard of living
70. What does the author think of communication through print for children?
A. It enables children to gain more social information.
B. It develops children’s interest in reading and writing.
C. It helps children to read and write well.
D. It can control what children are to learn.
71. What does the author think of the change in today’s children?
A. He feels their adultlike behavior is so funny.
B. He thinks the change worthy of note.
C. He considers it a rapid development. 
D. He seems to be upset about it.

Is a mouse that can speak acceptable? How about a dog with human hands or feet? Scientists, the people with the know-how to make such things happen, are now thinking about whether such experiments are morally right or not.
On Nov. 10, Britain’s Academy of Medical Sciences launched a study on the use of animals with human materials in scientific research. The work is expected to take at least a year, but its leaders hope it will lead to guidelines for scientists in Britain and around the world on how far they can go mixing human genes into animals in search of ways to fight human diseases.
“Do these constructs (構(gòu)想) challenge our idea of what it is to be human?” asked Martin Bobrow, a professor of medical genetics at Cambridge University and chair of a 14-member group looking into the issue. “It is important that we consider these questions now so that appropriate boundaries are recognized.”     
Using human material in animals is not new. Scientists have already created monkeys that have a human form of the Huntingdon’s gene so they can study how the disease develops; and mice with livers (肝) made from human cells are being used to study the effects of new drugs.
However, scientists say the technology to put ever greater amounts of human genetic material into animals is spreading quickly around the world --- raising the possibility that some scientists in some places may want to go further than is morally acceptable.
Last year in Britain there was a lively debate over new laws allowing the creation of human-animal embryos (胚胎) for experiments. On one side of the debate were religious groups, who claimed that such science interferes with nature. Opposing them were scientists who pointed out that such experiments were vital to research cures for diseases.
The experts will publish reports after the end of the study, in which they will give definitions for animal embryos with human genes or cells, look at safety and animal welfare issues, and consider the right legal framework to work within. 
72. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Scientists in Britain and around the world.                
B. Leaders of the research.
C. Guidelines for scientists.                         
D. Scientific experiments.
73. Scientists do research of mixing human genes into animals in order to ____.
A. test new drugs on animals
B. to find ways to fight human diseases
C. prove the research is morally acceptable
D. create monkeys and mice with livers made from human cells
74. We can infer from the passage that ____.
A. the experts will release reports after the study
B. scientists have never doubted the use of animals with human materials
C. the creation of human-animal embryos for experiments is legal in Britain
D. religious groups hold that cures for diseases have to be done through experiments
75. What would be the best title of the passage?
A. Morally right or not?                   B. A debate about new laws
C. Cures for diseases                      D. Animal embryos with human genes

第II卷（共45分）
第四部分書(shū)面表達(dá)（共兩節(jié), 滿分45分）
第一節(jié)閱讀表達(dá)（共5小題；每小題3分，滿分15分）
閱讀下面的短文，并根據(jù)文章后的要求答題。（請(qǐng)注意問(wèn)題后的詞數(shù)要求）
[1]Hi, I write this letter to you, my parents, to let you know what I’m thinking．
[2]Running a business, raising three children, then raising all three into self-sufficient college graduates is difficult to do．While loving each child individually and fairly, strict house rules have also developed…going out late is difficult to accomplish．I would like to suggest setting a later curfew（宵禁）, maybe midnight, or even one o’clock in the morning．
[3]While working up to twenty hours a week, my social life has been on the decline since school started．Naturally, you understand how important my friends are to me．Looking back to the summer, there have been many nights that I have wanted to go out, but if it was past nine o’clock, I would not be allowed to．You tell me to go to the party until my curfew, but if the rule continues, I will see my friends for an hour．Seeing my friends for an hour is better than nothing, but not enough to communicate with others．
[4]Gaining confidence and trust from you both are things I look forward to, and hopefully I am at an age where I can live up to your expectations．I acknowledge that you are watching over me, and don’t want your little girl to be hurt, and I appreciate that fully．But I can ____________ now that I am older．
[5]For the time and effort it has taken you to raise me, I sincerely thank you, but letting freedom into my teenage years will be beneficial to all of us．Please feel free to talk to me whenever you have made a decision．I’ll always be around．
76．What is the writer’s purpose in writing the letter? （within 10 words）
_______________________________________________________________________________
77．Fill in the blank in Paragraph 4 with proper words．（within 6 words）
_______________________________________________________________________________
78．Which sentence in the text is the closest in meaning to the following one?
I will always be available and ready for a talk．
_______________________________________________________________________________
79．Do you think strict house rules are necessary for teenagers? And why? （within 30 words）
_______________________________________________________________________________
80．Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 into Chinese．
_______________________________________________________________________________

第三部分：閱讀理解（共 20小題；每小題 2分，滿分 40分）
閱讀下列短文，然后從各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C 和 D）中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
All over my garden I’ve planted nothing but roses, sweet and — if looked at far away — bright with color like sunset clouds, I’d be very happy if anyone of my visiting friends should desire to pick and take some for their homes. I trust that any friend of mine carrying the rose would disappear into the distance feeling that his emotions had been rekindled (重燃).
A close friend came for a visit the other day. I know her to be a lover of flowers and plants. And for that reason I told her at her departure that she should pick a bunch of roses to grace her bedroom. I promised that the smell of the roses would be wafted far, far away.
That girl friend of mine, tiptoeing into the garden in high spirits, smelt here and there, but in the end she didn’t pick a single rose. I said there were so many of them that she would pick as many as she’d like to; I told her that I was not a flower farmer and didn’t make a living out of them. Saying so I raised the scissors for the sacrifice of the flowers, but she stopped me, crying no, no, no!
To cut such beautiful roses would hurt one, she said. With her hands seizing at my sleeves, she told me that by no means should they be cut. Roses are the smiling face of the earth, and who could be so iron-hearted as to destroy a smile so charming?
My mind was thoroughly shocked: the ugly earth, the rough earth, the plain earth—it is for the reason of that smile that it wins the care and pity of people.
56. The underlined word “wafted” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “__________”.
A. moved             B. lost                  C. destroyed                 D. felt
The writer plants nothing but roses in her garden probably because ____.
A.    she can make money out of them          B. her friends like them
C.    she enjoys the roses very much 
D.the roses can rekindle her friends’ emotions
58. Why did the writer’s close friend refuse to pick a single rose?
A. Because the roses were not beautiful.
B. Because she did not like this kind of roses.
C. Because the writer did not want to give her any.
D. Because she loved the roses very much.
59. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. A lovely rose garden.                             B. The smiling face of the earth.
C. The pity of people to the roses.          D. A lover of flowers.

BEIJING, Nov. 30 – The Bird’s Nest may have been built for last year’s Summer Games but Beijing’s Olympic stadium will soon be aiming at fans of winter sports.
As temperatures have begun to drop in recent weeks, so too has the number of visitors to the 80,000-seater venue, which cost 3.6 billion yuan ($527 million) to build.
And, fearing another harsh (寒冷的) winter, National Stadium Co Ltd, which owns the Bird’s Nest, yesterday planed to spend 50 million yuan on a “snow festival”. 　
From Dec 19, visitors will be able to pay 120 yuan to enjoy skiing and snowboarding, among other things, on its newly constructed slopes.
The stadium owners expect to attract more than 20,000 visitors a day – twice as many as it currently does – during the two-month festival, which will include events for both the Western and Chinese new years.
Officials revealed it would take just 5,000 visitors a day to cover the costs of the project.
“It’s not a bad idea. You can ski on man-made snow in Dubai, so why not here?” said Heiko Grasse, a tourist from Germany, yesterday.
Famous outdoor equipment makers and local brands are in talks over sponsorship for the event, the Bird’s Nest owners said yesterday, while the capital’s television network will also provide 500 hours of coverage.
“The Bird’s Nest will not have a cold winter again,” Wu Jingjun, the new president of National Stadium Co Ltd, told China Daily yesterday. “We will create seasonal events almost every month from now on with assistance from the government and, importantly, the public.”
Yang Cheng, a newly appointed vice-president of National Stadium Co Ltd, said the snow festival would run for five consecutive winters if successful.
60. How many people visit The Bird’s Nest a day before the “snow festival”?
A. About 80,000.   B. About 20,000.    C. About 10,000.   D. About 5,000. 
61. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A. The “snow festival” will attract more visitors from China than the Western countries.
B. People aren’t allowed to visit The Bird’s Nest before Dec 19.
C. The “snow festival” would run for at least five winters.
D. More than 2.4 million yuan a day is expected to be made in the “snow festival”.
62. What does Wu Jingjun mean by saying “The Bird’s Nest will not have a cold winter again”?
A. The Bird’s Nest will be kept at high temperatures in winter.
B. Winter Olympic Games will be held in The Bird’s Nest.
C. The “snow festival” will provide many events in winter.
D. The Bird’s Nest will get much more assistance from the government.
63. Which of the following may NOT be included in the “snow festival” events?
A. A football game.  B. Skiing.  C. Snowboarding.  D. A New Year’s Party.