It's not the flashiest car in the world. Not even close. But the 1971 Volkswagen named Helios can do
something most cars can't: nm on solar energy-energy from the sun's light and heat!
     Joshua Bechtold, 14, and the other students at the Riverside School in Lyndonville, Vermont, worked
many months to get Helios ready for the 1999 American Tour de Sol ("Sol" is the Latin word for "sun").
They named their car after Helios, the sun god in Greek mythology (神話).
     The 4-year-old Tour de Sol encourages the use of "green", or environmentally friendly, cars to help
reduce pollution and save energy. It's not a race. Cars are judged on fuel efficiency (耗油量) rather than
speed. In the week-long event, 44 cars took the 350-mile tour from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Lake
George, New York. Of the 23 student cars, Helios was the only one built by middle school students.
     A teacher drove Helios, but the children talked with people wherever they stopped along the mad. "That
was my favorite part," says Anna Browne, 15. "We explained how the car runs."
     Due in part to old, inefficient batteries (電池), Helios finished fourth-out of four-in its kind, the sun-
powered class. "We were there for the fun of it," Anna says. "We're proud of Helios," says Ariel Gleicher,
14. "It's a car that's good for the environment."

1. What is special about the car Helios in the text? 

A. It was built by middle school students. 
B. It has an' attractive design.
C. It was made in 1971.
D. It won the fourth prize.

2. How many sun-powered cars took part in the race?

A. 1.
B. 4.
C. 23.
D. 44.

3. What would be the best title for the text?

A. The Making of Helios
B. 1999 American Tour de Sol
C. Sun-powered Cars on the Road
D. Use of Green Cars in Connecticut

4. The students felt proud of Helios because _____.

A. it could run as far as 350 miles
B. it was favored by many children 
C. it had high-quality batteries
D. it was driven by clean energy

     These days a green building means more than just the color of the paint. Green building can also refer
to environmentally friendly houses, factories, and offices.
     Green building means"reducing the impact (影響) of the building on the land", Taryn Holowka of the
U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C., said.
     According to Holowka, building account for (占了) 65 percent of total U.S. electricity use.
     But green building can reduce energy and water use. Also, the building are often located near public
transportation such as buses and subways, so that people can drive their cars less. That could be good for
the environment, because cars use lots of gas and give off pollution. Green building are often built on
developed land, so that the buildings don't destroy forests.
      Marty Dettling is project manger for a building that put these ideas into action. The Solaire has been
called the country's first green high-rise building. According to Dettling, "We've reduced our energy use by
one-third and our water by 50 percent,"
     The Solaire cuts energy in past by using solar power. "On the face of the building we have solar panels
which change the sun's energy into electricity," Dettling explained.
     The solaire also has lights that automatically turn off when people leave the room. In addition, the building
has lots of windows, allowing people to use the sun for light during the day. The solaire cuts water reusing it.
     Not everyone is eager to move into a green building, however. Some people think that things like solar
panels cost more money than more traditional energy sources. Anyhow, Holowka said, "It's going to be big."

1. In the second paragraph, the underlined words"the building" most probably refer to ____.

A. an ordinary building
B. an energy-saving building
C. a green-colored building
D. a building in Washington D.C.

2. A green building is often built on an area of land ______.

A. which has thick forests around
B. which has already been for buildings
C. where people of high income live
D. where traveling around by car is most convenient

3. When Holowka says in the last paragraph, "It's going to be big", she means that green buildings _____.

A. will be more comfortable
B. will become popular in future
C. will be more environmentally friend
D. will take the place of traditional building

4. When is the main subject discussed in the text?

A. Dettling designed the first green building in the U.S.
B. Energy shortage calls for buildings of new design.
C. Green building help save environment.
D. The Solaire serves as a model of high building.

     Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted.Careless methods of production and lack of
consumer demand for environment (環(huán)境) friendly products have contributed to the pollution problem.
One result is that millions of tons of glass, paper, plastic, and metal containers are produced, and these
are difficult to get rid of.
     However, today, more and more consumers are choosing "green" and demanding that the products they
buy should be safe for the environment.Before they buy a product,they ask questions like these: "Will this
shampoo damage the environment?" "Can this metal container be reused or can it only be used once?"
     A recent study showed that two out of five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product
before they buy it. This means that companies must now change the way they make and sell their products
to make sure that they are "green," that is,friendly to the environment.
     Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets,but now there are
hundreds.Some supermarket products carry labels (標簽) to show that the product is green. Some
companies have made the manufacturing (生產) of clean and safe products their main selling point and
emphasize it in their advertising.
     The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business.
No longer will the public accept the old attitude of "Buy it, use it,throw it away, and forget it. "The public
pressure is on, and gradually business is cleaning up its act.

1. It becomes clear from the text that the driving force (動力) behind green products is _____.

A. public caring for the environment
B. companies,desire for bigger sales
C. new ways of doing business
D. rapid growth of supermarkets

2. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Business and People
B. Business Goes Green
C. Shopping Habits Are Changing
D. Supermarkets and Green Products

3. The underlined word "it" in the fourth paragraph refers to _____.

A. a selling point
B. the company name
C. a great demand for health foods
D. the manufacturing of green products

     At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents (文件)
because they could be stored electronically. But for all the texts that are written, stored and sent electronically,
a lot of them are still ending up on paper.
     It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of use of Internet-connected computers,
although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers
start working overtime. "I feel in my bones this revolution is causing more trees to be cut down," says Ted
Smith of the Earth Village Organisation.
     Perhaps best sign of how computer and Internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech
industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new markets. Several Internet companies have
been set up to help small businesses print quality documents from a computer. Earlier this week. Hewlett-
Packard Co. announced a plan to develop new technologies that will enable people to print even more so they
can get a hard copy of a business document, a medical record or just a one-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere
near a computer. As the company sees it, the more use of the Internet the greater demand for printers.
     Does all this mean environmental concerns (環(huán)境問題) have been forgotten? Some activists suggest people
have been led to believe that a lot of dangers to the environment have gone away. "I guess people believe that
the problem is taken care of, because of recycling (回收利用)," said Kelly Quirke, director of the Rainforest
Action Network in San Francisco. Yet Quirke is hopeful that high-tech may also prove helpful. He says printers
that print on both sides are growing in popularity. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from
materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste.

1. The growing demand for paper in recent years is largely due to _____.

A. the rapid development of small businesses
B. the opening up of new markets
C. the printing of high quality copies
D. the increased use of the Internet

2. Environmentalists believe one possible way of dealing with the paper situation is _____.

A. to encourage printing more quality documents
B. to develop new printers using recycled paper
C. to find new materials for making paper
D. to plant more fast growing trees

3. Hewlett-Packard Co. has decided to develop new technologies because _____.

A. people are concerned about the environment
B. printers in many offices are working overtime
C. small companies need more hard copies
D. they see a growing market for printers

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Computers and Printers
B. E-mail and the Business World
C. Internet Revolution and Environment
D. Modern Technology and New Markets

     A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy (搖頭丸) can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start
of Parkinson's disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells
that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson's for
the first time.
     A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and
baboons (狒狒) found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson's,
after receiving three low doses (劑量) of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.
     The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain.
George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe
damage. "The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing
Parkinsonism as they get older."
     Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, "This study emphasizes
the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We've long known that repeated use damages brain cells.
But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain
systems. It sends an important message to young people: don't experiment with your own brain."
     Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, "This
comes as no surprise. But people can't see the effects at first, and they say it won't happen to them. We'll see
the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking."

1. The article is intended to _____.

A. explain the bad effects of drugs on people's health
B. warn young people of the risk of taking the drug Ecstasy
C. persuade people out of such bad habits as smoking and using drugs
D. tell us the links between the drug Ecstasy and Parkinson's disease

2. We know from the passage that a low dose of Ecstasy _____.

A. won't cause serious brain damage
B. can permanently destroy one's brain cells
C. will result in immediate symptoms
D. may bring on Parkinson's at once

3. Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments?

A. Because their brain is similar to human being's.
B. Because these animals usually take drugs.
C. Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment.
D. Because there is a model in the animals' brains.

4. The underlined word "This" in the last paragraph probably means that _____.

A. Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995
B. taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking
C. occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems
D. people have long known that repeated use of the drug damages brain cells

     Health is the most important thing in the world. Nothing is more important than health. If one takes away
our money, houses, cars, or even our clothes, we can still survive.   1   That is why we always try to eat in
a healthy way and exercise regularly.
     How can we keep healthy? In order to eat healthily, I usually avoid eating food high in fat, like French fries
or cookies, which are junk foods.   2  Besides, I only eat little meat. 
       3   Taking exercise every day helps us build a strong body. Regular exercise is an important part of
keeping me healthy.
     What's more, I think friends are an important part of one's health.   4   I always feel better when I am with
friends than when I am alone. When I am with my friends, I always laugh. Laughing is also an important part
of health. It is good to stay with my friends.
     By eating properly and exercising regularly, I can keep my body at a proper weight and keep healthy. By
spending time with my friends, I can keep my mind as well as my body happy. These things sound easy to do,
but not many people can manage them.   5   

A. Many studies show that people with a narrow range of social contacts often get sick.
B. There are some people who like staying alone, but they keep healthy.
C. On the other hand, doing exercise is very important.
D. But if our health was taken away, it is certain that we would surely die.
E. I think a strong will is necessary if we want to keep healthy.
F. I eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruit which are full of vitamins.
G. Some people appear fat because they often eat too much.

     Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world's most southern
continent, Antarctica. Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of
massive (大量的) pieces of Antarctic ice. The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such
as seals and penguins. The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise.
     This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas. For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has
long been threatened by rising sea levels. The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built
on a body of water called a lagoon (淡水湖), are slowly sinking. When the city was founded about 1,600 years
ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today.
     Rising sea levels are not the only threat. The salty water is also destroying Venice's famous buildings and art
works. The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system
of moving flood barriers.
     Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern
Tanzania. It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters. The mountain supports five vegetation
zones and many kinds of animals.
     The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. This will have a bad effect on the mountain's
ecosystems (生態(tài)系統(tǒng)) and on Tanzania's travel industry. Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weat
her history will also be lost if the ice melts. Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns
from thousands of years ago.
     In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear
because of climate change. In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare (公
頃) park.
     There are 26 glaciers remaining today. Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030. Warming
temperatures are also threatening many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem.

1. The writer developed the passage mainly by _____.

A. giving examples
B. listing reasons
C. making comparisons
D. using quotations

2. How many glaciers disappeared since 1850 in Glacier National Park?

A. 150.
B. 26.
C. 400,000.
D. About 124.

3. According to the passage, what has been affected in Italy by rising sea levels?

A. Many kinds of plants and animals died out in Italy.
B. Venice's famous buildings and artworks are being destroyed completely.
C. The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly.
D. Its ancient buildings could be drowned.

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A. Climate Change
B. The Melting of Massive Pieces of Antarctic Ice
C. Visiting Endangered Places around the World
D. The disappearing of the Ice Glaciers

     If you're a male and you're reading this, congratulations! You're a survivor. According to statistics, you're
more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer as a woman, and nine times more likely to die of AIDS.
Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you'll die on average
five years before a woman.
     There're many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and
smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don't go to the doctor.
     "Men aren't seeing doctors as often as they should," says Dr. Gullotta. "This is particularly so for the over-
40s, when diseases tend to strike. According to a recent survey, 95% of women aged between 15 and early
40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.
     "A lot of men think they're unbeatable," Gullotta says. "They only come in when a friend drops dead on the
golf course and they think, Geez, if it could happen to him …"
     Then there's the ostrich (鴕鳥) approach. "Some men are scared of what might be there and would rather
not know," says Dr. Ross Cartmill.
     "Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies," Cartmill says. He believes
most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups. 
      "Prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the final cost is far greater,
it's called premature death."

1. Why does the author congratulate male readers at the beginning of the passage?

A. They have lived long enough to read this article.
B. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier life.
C. They can live longer than they expected.
D. They are more likely to survive serious diseases now.

2. Why does the author congratulate male readers at the beginning of the passage?

A. They have lived long enough to read this article.
B. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier life.
C. They can live longer than they expected.
D. They are more likely to survive serious diseases now.

3. Which of the following best completes the underlined sentence "Geez, if it could happen to him..."
    (in Para 4)?

A. I should consider myself lucky.
B. it would be a big misfortune.
C. I should avoid playing golf.
D. it could happen to me, too.

4. What does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by the ostrich approach (in Para 5)?

A. A casual attitude towards one s health conditions.
B. Unwillingness to find out about one's disease because of fear.
C. Refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involved.
D. A new treatment for certain psychological problems.