In 1986, when Carlo Petrini first coined the term "Slow Food", he organized locally in his native Italy to
preserve the food and wine culture and protest fast food.
     Today, slow food has spread to 132 countries with over 85 000 members, addressing worldwide issues
like farmer equity and environmental stewardship-the actions people take to respect the rights of all living
things and all environments, to contribute to healthy and livable, communities.
     Characterized by Slow Food International as "good, clean, and fair food," slow food must enrich the eater's
life, have no negative impact on human or environmental health, and compensate fairly for food producers'
work. The average American meal travels about 1 500 miles to its final destination, with producing of food
traveling by plane from overseas and other items shipped across the country. However, cost for food travel
and heavy processing are not the only problems in the food industry that the environment faces. Industrial
agriculture also has unsustainable practices like inefficient water use and decreased biodiversity. Our ideas in
feeding ourselves are exceptional, but at various points our technologies come into conflict with nature's ways
of doing things. A great many of the health and environmental problems created by our food system owe to
our attempts to oversimplify nature's complexities, at both the growing and the eating ends of our food chain.
     "Slowing" food, by purchasing locally and sustainably, allows consumers to reduce the impact of "food
miles" and develop a closer relationship with their food producers. "We need to change our food system," said
David Prior, organizer of Slow Food Nation's Eat-In. "Our current food system is sick and we need to support
farmers and agriculture to ensure that everyone has the right to nutritious food."

1. The main idea of the passage can be summarized as _____.

A. why slow food is so important
B. the food and wine culture is rich in Italy
C. what you're eating always travels a long way
D. slow food makes the current food system sick

2. According to the second paragraph, environmental stewardship refers to _____.

A. measures of environmental protections
B. ways to establish healthy and livable communities
C. people's admiration for all the creatures on the earth
D. actions to protect the rights of all living things and environment

3. Slow food's characteristic doesn't lie in _____.

A. improving the quality of eater's life
B. providing a fair pay for food workers
C. being friendly to human and environmental health
D. developing a loose relationship with food producers

4. What is David Prior's attitude towards current food system? 

A. Suspicious
B. Unsatisfied
C. Indifferent
D. Supportive

    The World Health Organization raised the pandemic (流行病) flu alert (警戒) to six, the highest level,
which means that the H1N1 swine flu is spreading world-wide.
    The WHO will ask all countries, including the countries that haven't yet reported any cases, to make plans
to control this disease.
    "It was reported that about 35,000 people infected with the H1N1 virus in 74 counties," Margaret Chan, an
officer of the WHO, said on Thursday. "Further spread of the disease is possible," Ms Chan said. So far, WHO
doesn't expect a sudden jump in the number of serious or dead cases reported.
    In Australia, the number of people who got the flu became more than three times as many as before in the
past week, reaching 1,263 on Thursday, when three new ones were reported in this country. It recorded its
first case of the disease on May 9. "Australia tells us not because of the number of cases, but because of the
strong facts of community transmission (群體性傳播)," said the spokesman for the World Health Organization.
He said the WHO is also watching on similar evidence in the UK, Spain, Japan and Chile.
    In Hong Kong, the government on Thursday ordered the nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools to
close for two weeks after a dozen students at one school tested positive (陽性的) for swine flu. Elsewhere in
Asia, health officials in Thailand found 30 new H1N1 cases, raising the total there to 46.

1. How many levels does WHO use to warn people against the pandemic flu?

A. Five.
B. Six.
C. Seven.
D. Eight.

2. WHO raised the pandemic flu alert to the highest level because _____.

A. all countries in the world have reported dead cases
B. there is a sudden jump in the number of cases reported
C. there is no medicine to cure this flu
D. it is spreading in the world

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The number of people who got the flu has dropped slightly in the past week in Australia.
B. The WHO ask the countries that have reported cases to make plans to control the disease.
C. The number of people who got the flu reached more than 1,000 in Australia on Thursday.
D. The Hong Kong government ordered all schools to close for two weeks on Thursday.

4. This passage mainly tells us something about _____.

A. WHO's raising the pandemic flu alert
B. how to prevent this kind of flu
C. people who got the pandemic flu 
D. the ways to avoid the serious pandemic flu

                                                        Tragedy at the Circus
     In yesterday's circus (馬戲團(tuán)) show, a tiger suddenly attacked its trainer and had to be shot dead.
As the circus packed up and left, circus officials said the show would go on, even without tigers.
     However, the officials can't simply turn a blind eye to the ethical problems left behind. Even before
this tragedy (悲劇), animal rights activists protested against keeping wild animals in unnatural conditions
and forcing them to suffer for the profit (利潤) of circus organizers.
      It is now time for us to take effective steps to make sure that circus animals are treated properly.
     Circus Safe for Animals
     Our circus recently suffered a most tragic event in its history. While we are thankful for the pity from
the public, we are also astonished by the opinion expressed in "Tragedy at the Circus."
     First, our performing animals are not taken from the wild. As to the ethical problems. we always believe
humans and animals can-and should-live together nicely. To us, the performing animals are representatives
of their species (物種), and our circus is one of the only places left willing to support this special role of
performing animals in the existence of the species. Those who argue that circus life is harmful to animals
show little knowledge of these facts. Life in the "wild" is unsafe, but a continuous struggle for existence.
To overlook these reslities is the greatest fault against the animal kingdom.
     This circus has proven that animals are stronger and smarter than we could imagine. Within the circus
is a joyful atmosphere for both animals and humans: people are educated, and species saved.

1. What is the main purpose of the first passage?

A. To show pity for the performing animals.
B. To express worries about ainimal trainers'safety.
C. To deal with the difficult situations of the circus.
D. To call for action to protect circus animals.

2. What will the circus most probably do?

A. Take no notice of the tragedy.
B. Continue its performances.
C. Use fewer wild animals.
D. Limit its profit.

3. What does the circus think of its performing animals?

A. They are as clever as human beings.
B. They struggle continuously with human beings for existence.
C. They are helpful in saving their species.
D. They have equally natural living conditions as wild animals.

4. What is the most probable relationship between the two passages?

A. A public request and a newspaper report.
B. A newspaper article and a reply to it.
C. Two parts of a newspaper article.
D. Two newspaper reports.

     This was the year the Earth struck back.
     Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, snow storms, landslides and droughts killed
at least a quarter of a million people in 2010-the deadliest year in more than a generation. More people were
killed worldwide by natural disasters this year than have been killed in terrorism attacks in the past 40 years
combined.
     "It just seemed like it was back-to-back and it came in waves," said Craig Fugate, who heads the U.S.
Federal Emergency Management Agency. It handled a record number of disasters in 2010.
     And we have ourselves to blame most of the time, scientists and disaster experts say.
     Even though many catastrophes have the ring of random chance, the hand of man made this a particularly
deadly, costly, extreme and weird (古怪的) year for everything from wild weather to earthquakes.
     Poor construction and development practices conspire to make earthquakes more deadly than they need
be. More people live in poverty in vulnerable (脆弱的) buildings in crowded cities. That means that when the
ground shakes, the river breaches, or the tropical cyclone hits, more people die.
     Disasters from the Earth, such as earthquakes and volcanoes "are pretty much constant," said Andreas
Schraft, vice president of catastrophic perils for the Geneva-based insurance giant Swiss Re."All the change
that's made is man-made."
     The January earthquake that killed well more than 220,000 people in Haiti is a perfect example. Port-au-
Prince has nearly three times as many people - many of them living in poverty-and more poorly built shanties
than it did 25 years ago. So had the same quake hit in 1985 instead of 2010, total deaths would have probably
been in the 80,000 range, said Richard Olson, director of disaster risk reduction at Florida International
University.
     In February, an earthquake that was more than 500 times stronger than the one that struck Haiti hit an area
of Chile that was less populated, better constructed, and not as poor. Chile's bigger quake caused fewer than
1,000 deaths.
     Climate scientists say Earth's climate also is changing, bringing extreme weather, such as heat waves and
flooding.
     In the summer, one weather system caused oppressive heat in Russia, while farther south it caused flooding
in Pakistan that inundated 161,200 square kilometers, about the size of Wisconsin. That single heat-and-storm
system killed almost 17,000 people, more people than all the worldwide airplane crashes in the past 15 years.
     Scientists have calculated that the killer Russian heat wave-setting a national record of 43.9℃-would
happen once every 100,000 years without global warming.

1. What is responsible for the most human deaths in 2010?

A. Natural disasters.
B. Terrorist attacks.
C. Poor buildings.
D. Too rapid development.

2. According to Andreas Schraft, _____.

A. earthquakes are happening more often because of human beings
B. earthquakes are causing more damage because of human beings
C. stronger houses should be built to limit storm damage
D. Port-au-Prince is now overpopulated

3. The main point of the article is to _____.

A. list the natural disasters that occurred in 2010
B. give the details of some natural disasters of 2010
C. warn that more natural disasters are to strike
D. blame humanity for not helping those affected by the disasters

     Dear Dr. Cory:
     I have allergies(過敏反應(yīng)). It feels like something is in my throat. What is it and what should I do to
help it?
                                                                                                                                           Christa
     Dear Christa:
     You might be feeling mucous in your throat.The membranes there make mucus to keep nasal
passages(鼻腔)moist and clean and to warm the air that we breathe.But sometimes our bodies make  
too much mucus, and it can collect at the back of the throat. Drinking lots of liquids, especially warm
ones, may help.
    
     Dear Dr. Cory:
     Sometimes when I don’t wear any socks with my shoes I get blisters(水皰). What are blisters? How
can I avoid them?
                                                                                                                                                Jacy
     Dear Jacy:
     Blisters occur when something(like the back of your shoe)rubs against your skin and causes tiny
blood vessels to leak fluid(液體). The blister acts like a pillow to protect damaged skin while it repairs
itself.
     The best way to prevent blisters is to avoid“rubbing”spots.If the problem is your shoes, wear socks
and shoes that fit to help prevent blisters.

     Dear Dr. Cory:
     I like reading your column. It tells me a lot about the body and how it works. I have a question for
you: I have not been airing my feet out lately and the bottoms of them have been turning crisp(起皺的)
and the skin is peeling. Why?
                                                                                                                                                Aaron
     Dear Aaron:
     People whose feet get wet or sweaty while wearing shoes may develop athlete's foot, caused by a
fungus that likes warm, damp skin. The fungus is easily passed from one person to another, so public
places such as locker rooms or showers are real hot spots. It's most common during summer in people
who rarely remove their shoes, and in people who sweat a lot. It can cause bumps, redness, itching,
and peeling of the skin, often between the toes.
     Anti-fungus cream, now available without a prescription(處方), cures the infection. Your doctor or
health care provider can help find the cause of the problem.

1. What should Christa do with her trouble?

A. Drink plenty of warm water.
B. Let it be for it can repair itself.
C. Consult a doctor immediately.
D. Remove the mucus immediately.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Jacy doesn’t like wearing socks.
B. Dr.Cory often writes some books about health.
C. Athletes are more likely to have foot problems.
D. You can cure infection without the help of doctors.

3. The following statements are true about blisters EXCEPT that __________.

A. the blisters are helpful to skin’s recovery
B. wearing suitable socks and shoes can prevent blisters
C. blood vessels will leak fluid if rubbed
D. the best way to cure blisters is to avoid rubbing spots

4. Doctor Cory thinks the most direct reason of Aaron’s trouble is __________.

A. sweating
B. not airing his feet out
C. fungus
D. rarely removing his shoes

5. The letters are about __________.

A. ways to keep fit
B. health problems
C. suggestions about diet
D. knowledge about medicine

1. The main reason why obesity rates are rising in many Pacific islanders is ________.

A. the change of society
B. the change of eating habits
C. the change of life style
D. lack of exercise

2. Imported products lack nutritional value but people love to buy them because ________.

A. they are cheap
B. they are popular
C. they are tasty
D. they are convenient to get

3. How many people living in Pacific island countries have health disorders?

A. 1 million.  
B. 4 million.
C. 6 million.  
D. 10 million.

4. The percentage of diabetes rates in American Samoa is ________.

A. optimistic  
B. steady
C. worrying  
D. low

     Britain's seed bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet's wild plant species,
has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010.
     The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens-one of the oldest botanical gardens-will
officially deposit the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China.
     More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe,
including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said.
     The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds.
Its goal is to help protect the planet's biodiversity during a time of climate change.
     The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction(滅絕)in Southwest China from agricultural
development.It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human
consumption.
     Stored at minus 20 degrees centigrade, the seeds can last for thousands of years and await the day
that scientists hope never comes-when the species no longer exist in the wild.
     It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last decade alone, 20 plants held in the bank have
already been wiped out in the wild. He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct
this century.
     "It is urgent and it is happening now. An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation
(植被)every year," Smith said.
     Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is
quite important, scientists say. There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which
only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity.
     For Kew's next goal-to collect a quarter of wild varieties by 2020-the botanists need 10 million
pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted.

1. What's the final purpose of the Britain's seed bank?

A. To collect enough money for the project.
B. To safeguard food crops.
C. To protect wild plants from extinction.
D. To help scientists study wild plants.

2. The wild banana seed in China is in danger because of__________.

A. the expanding of farming work
B. the climate change in this area
C. the large number of Asian elephants
D. human's large consumption

3. We can learn from the passage that__________.

A. the seeds in the bank can be used now and then spread all over the world
B. India and Brazil haven't joined in the Seed Bank Project at present
C. there is only one seed bank in the world at present
D. the wild plants in places like India and China will never die out

4. What does the underlined word "It" in Paragraph 7 refer to?

A. The extinction of plant species.
B. The Millennium Seed Bank Project.
C. Britain's seed bank.
D. Kew Gardens' next goal.

5. Which of the following information isn't mentioned in the passage?

A. The global partnership of collecting wild plant species.
B. The temperature condition of the conservative wild plant species.
C. The government's financial support for the seed bank project.
D. Scientists' concern on the extinct wild plant species.

     Experts say that agriculture provides fourteen percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions each
year. The gases released include carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming.
     Twenty-one nations around the world recently joined forces to better understand and prevent
greenhouse gas emissions from farms. The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
was launched at the United Nations conference on climate change. The meeting took place in
Copenhagen, Denmark last month.
     Agricultural experts blame a number of farm activities for producing greenhouse gases. For
example, animal waste and cattle digestive systems release methane(甲烷, 沼氣)gas. Fertilized soil
and the burning of crop waste also release harmful gases into the air. Experts say some methods of
farming-turning the soil to prepare for planting-also release harmful carbon dioxide.
     An official of the European Commission's Directorate General for Research says agricultural
greenhouse gas emissions can be cut. Maive Rute suggests feeding animals a diet designed to reduce
emissions.
     The new agricultural research group says protecting against global warming is only part of its
purpose. It says the world also needs to develop better farming methods to feed growing populations
in poor countries.
     United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said no one single nation can fight agricultural
greenhouse gas emissions and increase food production at the same time. This is why the alliance is
important for combining resources and finding new ones.
     The United States Department of Agriculture will increase spending on farm emissions research by
ninety million dollars over the next four years. The total will reach one hundred and thirty million dollars.
The U. S. D. A. will share the research with other countries in the Global Research Alliance on
Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and support researchers from developing countries that belong to the
alliance. Money from the Borlaug Fellowship Program will let the researchers study agricultural climate
change with American scientists.
     Mister Vilsack said that just as climate change has no borders, there should be no borders for
research.

1. In Paragraph 4, Maive Rute recommends __________.

A. increasing food production
B. changing cattle digestive systems
C. developing better farming methods
D. giving animals the food meant to produce fewer emissions

2. The underlined word "alliance" in Paragraph 6 probably means __________.

A. action or state being joined together
B. an agreement signed between countries
C. a program or project set up for a research
D. an organization formed for different goals

3. How much has the U. S. D. A. spent on farm emissions research so far?

A. 130 million dollars.  
B. 220 million dollars.
C. 40 million dollars.  
D. 90 million dollars.

4. The purpose of the passage is to __________.

A. suggest a total ban on farm activities
B. introduce the Copenhagen conference held last month
C. appeal to more countries to cut agricultural emissions
D. inform readers of the major cause of global warming

     A Low-Carbon Economy (LCE) or Low-Fossil-Fuel Economy (LFFE) is an economy which has
a smallest output of greenhouse gas (GHG) release into the atmosphere, but specifically refers to the
greenhouse gas CO2. Recently, most of scientific and public opinion has come to the conclusion that
there is such an accumulation of GHG (especially CO2) in the atmosphere due to human-related
activities that the climate is changing. The over-concentration of these gases is producing global
warming that affects long-term climate, with negative impacts on humanity in the foreseeable future.
Globally performed LCEs therefore, are proposed as a means to avoid catastrophic climate change,
and as a forerunner to the more advanced, zero-carbon society and renewable-energy economy.
     Some nations are low-carbon societies which are not heavily industrialized or populated. In order
to avoid climate change at any point in the future, all nations considered carbon-thick societies and
societies which are heavily populated, should become zero-carbon societies and economies. Several
of these countries have promised to become "low carbon" but not entirely zero carbon, and claim that
release will be cut by 100% by offsetting release rather than stopping all release. In other words, some
release will continue which will be offset, so they are not low-release.
     Nations seek to become low-carbon economies as part of a national global warming
reductionstrategy. A comprehensive strategy to manage global warming is carbon neutrality,
geoengineering andadaptation to global warming.
     Nuclear power, or, the proposed strategies of carbon collection and storage (CCS) have been
proposed as the primary means to achieve a LCE while continuing to exploit non-renewable resources;
there is concern, however, with the matter of spent-nuclear-fuel storage, security and the uncertainty of
costs and time needed to successfully carry out CCS worldwide and with guarantees that the stored
release will not leak into the atmosphere. Alternatively, many have proposed renewable energy should
be the main basis of a LCE, but, they have their associated problems of high-cost and inefficiency; this
is changing, however, since investment and production have been growing significantly in recent times.
Furthermore, regardless of the effect to the atmosphere by GHG releases, the growing issue of peak
oil may also be reason enough for a change to a LCE.

1. Low-carbon economy is encouraged for the following reasons except that __________.

A. too much greenhouse gas CO2 is released
B. the over-concentration of greenhouse gases is producing global warming
C. it can avoid catastrophic climate change
D. low carbon and zero carbon nations and societies claim for it

2. The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means __________.

A. warning  
B. pioneer
C. symbol  
D. guide

3. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A. Nuclear power could act as one of the primary means to achieve a LCE.
B. There's worry about spent-nuclear-fuel storage, security and the uncertainty of costs.
C. The stored release will be likely to leak into the atmosphere.
D. Renewable energy tends to become the only means to achieve a LCE.

4. From the last paragraph, we can infer that the writer's attitude toward the proposal of adapting
renewable energy is __________.

A. negative  
B. positive
C. self-confident  
D. doubtful