Skeptics are strange lot. Some of them refuse to admit the serious threat of human activities to the
environment, and they are tired of people who disagree with them. Those people, say skeptics, spread nothing
but bad news about the environment. The "eco-guilt" brought on by the discouraging about our planet gives
rise to the popularity of skeptics as people search for more comforting worldviews.
     Perhaps that explains why a new book by Bjorn Lomborg received so much publicity. That book, The
Skeptical Environmentalist, declares that it measures the "real state of the world" as fine. Of course, another
explanation is the deep pockets of some big businesses with special interests. Indeed, Mr. Lomborg's views
are similar to those of some Industry-funded organizations, which start huge activities though the media to
confuse the public about issues like global warming.
     So it was strange to see Mr. Lomborg's book go largely unchallenged in the media though his beliefs were
contrary to most scientific opinions. One national newspaper in Canada ran a number of articles and reviews
full of words of praise, even with the conclusion that "After Lomborg, the environmental movement will begin
to die down."
     Such one-sided views should have immediately been challenged. But only a different review appeared in
Nature, a respected science magazine with specific readership. The review remarked that Mr. Lomborg's
"preference for unexamined materials is incredible (不可信的)".
     A critical (批判的) eye is valuable, and the media should present information in such a way that could
allow people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is often inaccessible as blocked by the desire
to be shocking or to defend some special interest. People might become half-blind before a world partially
exhibited by the media. That's a shame, because matters concerning the health of the planet are far too
important to be treated lightly.

1. According to the passage, which of the following may be regarded as "skeptics"?

A. People who agree on the popularity of "eco-guilt".
B. People who disbelieve the serious situation of our planet.
C. People who dislike the harmful effect of human activities.
D. People who spread comforting news to protect our environment.

2. Which of the following can be a reason for the popularity of Lomborg's books?

A. Some big businesses intend to protect their own interests.
B. The book challenges views about the fine state of the world.
C. The author convinces people to speak comforting worldviews.
D. Industry-funded media present confusing information.

3. The author mentioned the review in Nature in order to _____.

A. voice a different opinion
B. find fault with Lomborg's book
C. challenge the authority of the media
D. point out the value of scientific views.

4. What is the author's main purpose in writing the passenger?

A. To encourage the skeptics to have a critical eye.
B. To warn the public of the danger of half-blindness with reviews.
C. To blame the media's lack of responsibility in information.
D. To show the importance of presenting overall information by the media.

     A Brown University sleep researcher has some advice for people who run high schools: Don't start classes
so early in the morning. It may not be that the students who nod off at their desks are lazy. And it may not be
that their parents have failed to enforce (確保) bedtime. Instead, it may be that biologically these sleepyhead
students aren't used to the early hour.
     "Maybe these kids me being asked to rise at the wrong time for their bodies," says Mary Carskadon, a
professor looking at problem of adolescent (青春期的) sleep at Brown's School of Medicine.
     Carskadon is trying to understand more about the effects of early school time in adolescents. And, at a more
basic level. She and her team are trying to learn more about how the biological changes of adolescence affect
sleep needs and patterns.
     Carskadon says her work suggests that adolescents may need more sleep than they did at childhood, no less,
as commonly thought.
     Sleep patterns change during adolescence, as any parent of an adolescent can prove. Most adolescents prefer
to stay up later at nigh and sleep later in the morning. But it's not just a matter of choice-their bodies are going
through a change of sleep patters.
     All of this makes the transfer from middle school to high school-which may start one hour earlier in the
morning-all the more difficult, Carskadon says. With their increased need for sleep and their biological clocks
set on the "sleep late, rise late" pattern, adolescent are up against difficulties when it conics to trying to be up
by 5 or 6 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. first hell. A short sleep on a desktop may be their body's way of saying. "I need
a timeout."

1. Carskadon suggests that high schools should not start classes so early in the morning because _____.

A. it is really tough for parents to enforce bedtime
B. it is biologically difficult for students to rise early
C. students work so late at night that they can't get up early
D. students are so lazy that they don't like to go to school early

2. The underlined phrase "nod off" most probably means " _____".

A. turn around
B. agree with others
C. full asleep
D. refuse to work

3. What might be a reason for the hard transfer middle school to high school?

A. Adolescents depend more on their parents.
B. Adolescents have to choose their sleep patterns.
C. Adolescents sleep better than they did at childhood.
D. Adolescents need more sleep than they used to.

4. What is the test mainly about?

A. Adolescent health care.
B. Problems in adolescent learning.
C. Adolescent sleep difficulties.
D. Changes in adolescent sleep needs and patterns.

     For a while, my neighborhood was taken ever by an army of joggers (慢跑者). They were there all the
time: early morning, noon, and evening. There were little old ladies in gray sweats, young couples in Adidas
shoes, middle-aged men with red faces. "Come on!" My friend Alex encouraged me to join him as he jogged
by my house every evening. "You'll feel great."
     Well, I had nothing against feeling great and if Alex could jog every day, anyone could. So I took up jogging
seriously and gave it a good two months of my life, and not a day more. Based on my experience, jogging is
the most overvalued form of exercise around, and judging from the number of the people who left our
neighborhood jogging army. I'm not alone in my opinion.
     First of all, jogging is very hard on the body. Your legs and feet a real pounding (追擊) ruining down a road
for two or three miles. I developed foot, leg, and back problems. Then I read about a nationally famous jogger
who died of a heart attack while jogging, and I had something else to worry about. Jogging doesn't kill hundreds
of people, but if you have any physical weaknesses, jogging will surely bring them out, as they did with me.
     Secondly, I got no enjoyment out of jogging. Putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes
isn't my idea of fun. Jogging is also a lonely pastime. Some joggers say, "I love being out there with just my
thoughts" Well, my thoughts began to bore me, and most of them were on how much my legs hurt.
     And how could I enjoy something that brought me pain? And that wasn't just the first week: it was
practically every day for two months. I never got past the pain level, and pain isn't fun. What a cruel way to do
it! So many other exercises, including walking, lead to almost the same results painlessly, so why jog?
     I don't jog any more, and I don't think I ever will. I'm walking two miles three times a week at a fast pace,
and that feels good. I bicycle to work when the weather is good. I'm getting exercise, and I'm enjoying it at the
same time. I could never say the same for jogging, and I've found a lot of better ways to stay in shape.

1. From the first paragraph, we learn that in the writer's neighborhood _____.

A. jogging became very popular
B. people jogged only during the daytime
C. Alex organized an army of joggers
D. jogging provided a chance to get together

2. The underlined word "them"(Paragraph 3) most probably refers to _____.

A. heart attacks
B. Back problems
C. famous joggers
D. physical weaknesses

3. What was the writer's attitude towards jogging in the beginning?

A. He felt it was worth a try.
B. He was very fond of it.
C. He was strongly against it.
D. He thought it must be painful.

4. Why did the writer give up jogging two months later?

A. He disliked doing exercise outside.
B. He found it neither healthy nor interesting.
C. He was afraid of having a heart attack.
D. He was worried about being left alone.

5. From the writer's experience, we can conclude that _____.

A. not everyone enjoys jogging
B. he is the only person who hates jogging
C. nothing other than jogging can help people keep fit
D. jogging makes people feel greater than any other sport.

     I know what you're thinking: pizza (比薩餅)? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last
night's leftovers in the a.m. if you want to.
     I know lots of women who skip breakfast (不吃早飯), and they have a ton of different excuses for
doing it. Some say they don't have time, others think they're "saying" calories (卡路里), still others just
don't like breakfast food.
     But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you're trying to lose weight.
"Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all," says Katherine
Brooking, R.D., who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year's "SELF CHALLENGE". And
even pizza can be healthy if it's loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece.
     Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research
shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of
Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who
regularly have a morning meal.
     So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast
altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night's leftovers-it may sound
crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, "You can always eat it tomorrow." I put away
the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it … you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories.
And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.

1. The word "leftovers" in paragraph I probably means _____.

A. food remaining after a meal
B. things left undone
C. meals made of vegetables
D. pizza topped with fruit

2. What can we infer from the text?

A. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.
B. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.
C. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.
D. Eating vegetables helps save energy.

3. According to the last paragraph, it is important to ______.

A. eat something for breakfast
B. be careful about what you cat
C. heat up food before eating it
D. cat calorie-controlled food

4. The text is written mainly for those ______.

A. who go to work early
B. who want to lose weight
C. who stay up late
D. who eat before sleep

     My family and I lived across the street from Southway Park since I was four years old. Then just last year
they city put a chain link fence around the park and started bulldozing (用推土機(jī)推平) the trees and grass to
make way for a new apartment complex. When I saw the fence and bulldozers, I asked myself, "Why don't
they just leave it alone?"
     Looking back, I think what sentenced the part to oblivion (別遺忘) was the drought (旱災(zāi)) we had about
four years ago. Up until then, Southway Park was a nice green park with plenty of trees and a public swimming
pool. My friends and I roller-skated on the sidewalks, climbed the tress, and swam in the pool all the years I
was growing up. The park was almost like my own yard. Then the summer I was fifteen the drought came and
things changed.
     There had been almost no rain at all that year. The city stopped watering the park grass. Within a few weeks
I found myself living across the street from a huge brown desert. Leaves fell off the park tress, and pretty soon
the trees started dying, too. Next, the park swimming pool was closed. The city cut down on the work force
that kept the park, and pretty soon it just got too ugly and dirty to enjoy anymore.
     As the drought lasted into the fall, the park got worse every month. The rubbish piled up or blew across the
brown grass. Soon the only people in the park were beggars and other people down on their luck. People said
drugs were being sold or traded there now. The park had gotten scary, and my mother told us kids not to go
there anymore. The drought finally ended and things seemed to get back to normal, that is, everything but the
park. It had gotten into such bad shape that the city just let it stay that way. Then about six months ago I heard
that the city was going to "redevelop" certain worn-out areas of the city. It turned out that the city had planned
to get rid of the park, sell the land and let someone build rows of apartment buildings on it.
     The chain-link fencing and the bulldozers did their work. Now we live across the street from six rows of
apartment buildings. Each of them is three units high and stretches a block in each direction. The neighborhood
has changed without the park. The streets I used to play in are jammed with cars now. Things will never be the
same again. Sometimes I wonder, though, what changes another drought would make in the way things
are today.

1. How did the writer feel when he saw the fence and bulldozers? 

A. Scared.
B. Confused.
C. Upset.
D. Curious.

2. Why was the writer told not to go to the park by his mother?

A. It was being rebuilt.
B. It was dangerous.
C. It because crowded.
D. It had turned into a desert.

3. According to the writer, what eventually brought about the disappearance of the park?

A. The drought.
B. The crime.
C. The beggars and the rubbish.
D. The decisions of the city.

4. The last sentence of the passage implies that if another drought came, _____.

A. the situation would be much worse
B. people would have to desert their homes
C. the city would be fully prepared in advance
D. the city would have to redevelop the neighborhood

     Sport is necessary for everyone. It helps you keep fit. Fitness is (1)i______ if you want to be healthy
throughout your life. The best way to keep fit is to get plenty (2)______ exercise by doing sport. According
to (3)______ (科學(xué)家), doing sport can benefit people a lot mentally As well as physically. (4)The ______ 
sport they do, the happier they will (5)f______. Besides, sport can help people develop will and determination.
These qualities help people achieve their goals (6)b______ they will not give up so easily when (7)f______ (面
對) life difficulties. What's more, sport builds team spirit, which is good for the whole society. It helps people
work (8)______ (密切) and smoothly and think about (9)______, not just themselves. In (10)c______, sport
is good for your health and happiness, and for society.

     In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources (資源), the harm from the traditional
business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decades has seen more and more forests disappearing
and globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed,
and that we must be able to develop in sustainable (可持續(xù)的) ways. That means growth with low carbon
or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its
supply of natural resources.
     Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the
global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decades. China, for
example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global
energy revolution. It is now tryuing hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge
amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth
in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil (棕櫚油), which is produced without cutting
down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than
50%.
     Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for
reducing carbon emissions (排放) and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement
of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid
the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can
accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one.
     The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the
limits if this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product
industries.

1. The traditional business model is humful because of all the following EXCEPT that _____.

A. It makes the world warmer
B. it consumes natural resources
C. it brings severe damage to forests
D. it makes growth hard to continue

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A. China lacks wind and solar energy.
B. China is the leader of the low-carbon market.
C. High-speed trains are a low-carbon development.
D. Palm oil is made at the cost of valuable forests.

3. To full develop the low-carbon markets, government can _____.

A. cut public expenses
B. forbid carbon emission
C. develop public resources
D. encourage energy conservation

4. We can learn from the last paragraph that businesses have many chances to _____.

A. develop sustainable products
B. explore new natural resources
C. make full use of natural resources
D. deal with the major challenge

5. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To introduce a new business model.
B. To compare two business models.
C. To predict a change of the global market.
D. To advocate sustainable development.

     The global energy crisis is approaching. What can we do? Here are some steps you can take.
     Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid (電網(wǎng)). Just as a tune-up
for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up your heating and cooling system can improve
efficiency and comfort. Clean or replace filters monthly or as needed.
     For central air conditioning systems and room sir conditioners, look for the ENERGY STAR, the federal
government's symbol for energy efficiency. For central air, purchase the system with the highest possible
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
     Use energy-efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning Ceiling fans do a great job of
circulating air. When used with air conditioning, fans allow you to raise the thermostat (恒溫器) and cut
costs. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so before you leave, turn off the ceiling fan.
     Let a programmable thermostat "remember for you" to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your
daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent. You can come home to a comfortable
house without wasting energy and cresting pollution all day while you are at work.
     Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner
and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.
     Cut your air conditioning load, and reduce pollution by planting leafy trees around your home and fixing
reflective bricks on your roof.
     Close blinds or shades on south-and west-facing windows during the day, or fix shading equipment to
avoid beat build-up.
     Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers. And use fluorescent bulbs (熒光燈), which provide
bright, warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy, producing 70 percent Jess beat and lasting up
to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs (白熾燈).
     Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle. If you
drive 12,500 miles a year, switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 miles per gallon to one
that gets 30 mpg will save you more than $65 per year.
     Carpool. The average U.S. commutes (乘車上班族) could save about $260 a year by sharing cars twice
a week with two other people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg-assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.

1. According to the passage, the thermostat is used to _____.

A. make rooms quieter
B. control room temperature
C. turn off the air conditioner
D. reduce room air pollution

2. We can conclude from the passage that the author probably discourages _____.

A. planting leafy trees around your home
B. turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house
C. keeping your south-facing windows open during the day
D. using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs

3. According to the passage, you can save fuel by _____. 

A. using energy-efficient ceiling fans
B. sharing cars with others on workdays
C. turning off everything not in use
D. reducing 10% of your car trips every year

4. This passage is mainly about _____.

A. energy-saving tips
B. fuel-saving tips
C. do it yourself tips
D. environment-protecting

     A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer,
actually increases the risk.
     Researchers from the University of lows based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked
at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma (黑素瘤). They said that they found flaws in studies
that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.
     Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen
helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence (發(fā)生率) faster than any other cancer in the
United States.
     But questions have been raised about sunscreen and whether it may have the opposite effect, perhaps
by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
     The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take
into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer-people with fair skin and freckles (雀斑), for
example-are more likely to use sunscreen. As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more
often.
     The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove
how well the products had been applied, said the new study.

1. The underlined word "flaws" in the 2^nd paragraph most probably means _____.

A. evidences
B. facts
C. faults
D. failures

2. People with fair skin and freckles _____.

A. seldom use sunscreen
B. are more in danger of skin cancer
C. can be free from the harm of the sun
D. often expose themselves to the sun

3. We can learn from the passage that _____.

A. sunscreen users get skin cancer more often
B. the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen
C. the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers
D. the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America

4. Which of the following can be the beat title for this passage?

A. Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer
B. Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer
C. Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen
D. Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles

     Melissa Poe was 9 years old when she began a campaign for a cleaner environment by writing a letter to
the then President Bush. Through her on efforts, her letter was reproduced on over 250 donated billboards
(廣告牌) across the country.
     The response to her request for help was so huge that Poe established Kids For A Cleaner Environment
(Kids F.A.C.E.) in 1989. There are now 300,000 members of Kids F.A.C.E. worldwide and it is the world's
largest youth environmental organization.
     Poe has also asked the National Park Service to carry out a "Children's Forest" project in every national
park. In 1992, she was invited one of only six children in the world to speak at the Earth Summit in Brazil
as part of the Voices of the future Program. In 1993, she was given a Caring Award for her efforts by the
Caring Institute.
     Since the organization started, Kids F.A.C.E. members have distributed and planted over 1 million trees!
Ongoing tree-planting projects include Kids' Yards-the creation of backyard wildlife habitats (棲息地) and
now Kids F.A.C.E. is involved in the exciting Odyssey, which is a great way to start helping.
     "We try to tell kids that it's not OK to be lazy," she explains, "You need to start being a response,
environmentally friendly person now, right now, before you become a resource-sucking adult."

1. Kids F.A.C.E. is _____.

A. a program to help students with writing
B. a project of litter recycling
C. a campaign launched by President Bush
D. a club of environmental protection

2. What can we learn about Poe?

A. She was awarded a prize in Brazil.
B. She donated billboards across the country.
C. She got positive responses for her efforts.
D. She joined the National Park Service.

3. Kid's Yards is _____.

A. established in national park
B. started to protect wildlife
C. a wildlife-raising project
D. an environment park for kids

4. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?

A. Adults are resources -sucking people.
B. Poe sought help from a youth organization.
C. Kids F.A.C.E. members are from the U.S.
D. Kids are urged to save natural resources.