Plants are flowering faster than scientists predicted（預(yù)測(cè)）in reaction to climate change, which could have long damaging effects on food chains and ecosystems.

Global warming is having a great effect on hundreds of plant and animal species around the world, changing some living patterns, scientists say.

Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air from burning coal and oil can have an effect on how plants produce oxygen, while higher temperatures and changeable rainfall patterns can change their patterns of growth.

“Predicting species’ reaction to climate change is a major challenge in ecology,” said the researchers of several U.S. universities. They said plants had been the key object of study because their reaction to climate change could have an effect on food chains and ecosystem services.

The study, published on the Nature website, uses the findings from plant life cycle studies and experiments across four continents and 1,634 species. It found that some experiments had underestimated（低估）the speed of flowering by 8.5 times and leafing by 4 times.

“Across all species, the experiments under-predicted the speed of advance — for both leafing and flowering — that results from temperature increases,” the study said.

The design of future experiments may need to be improved to better predict how plants will react to climate change, it said.

Plants are necessary for life on the Earth. They are the base of the food chain, using photosynthesis（光合作用）to produce sugar from carbon dioxide and water. They let out oxygen which is needed by nearly every organism on the planet.

Scientists believe the world’s average temperature has risen by about 0.8℃ since 1900, and nearly 0.2℃ every ten years since 1979.

So far, efforts to cut emissions（排放）of plant-warming greenhouse gases are not seen as enough to prevent the Earth heating up beyond 2℃ this century — a point scientists say will bring the danger of a changeable climate in which weather extremes are common, leading to droughts, floods, crop failures and rising sea levels.

72. What is the key information the author wants to give in Paragraph 1?

A. Plants’ reaction to weather could have damaging effects on ecosystems.

B. The increasing speed of flowering is beyond scientists’ expectation.

C. Climate change leads to the change of food production patterns.

D. Food chains have been seriously damaged because of weather.

73. We can learn from the study published on the Nature website that __________.

A. plants’ flowering is 8.5 times faster than leafing

B. there are 1,634 plant species on the four continents

C. scientists should improve the design of the experiments

D. the experiments failed to predict how plants react to climate change

74. Scientists pay special attention to the study of plants because __________.

A. they can prove the climate change clearly

B. they are very important in the food chains

C. they play a leading role in reducing global warming

D. they are growing and flowering much faster than before

75. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs about the world’s temperature?

A. It has risen nearly 0.2℃ since 1979.

B. Its change will lead to weather extremes.

C. It is 0.8℃ higher in 1979 than that of 1900.

D. It needs to be controlled within 2℃ in this century.

I left university with a good degree in English Literature, but no sense of what I wanted to do. Over the next six years, I was treading water, just trying to earn an income. I tried journalism, but I didn’t think I was any good, then finance, which I hated. Finally, I got a job as a rights assistant at a famous publisher. I loved working with books, although the job that I did was dull.

I had enough savings to take a year off work, and I decided to try to satisfy a deep-down wish to write a novel. Attending a Novel Writing MA course gave the structure I needed to write my first 55,000 words.

It takes confidence to make a new start — there’s a dark period in-between where you’re neither one thing nor the other. You’re out for dinner and people ask what you do, and you’re too ashamed to say, “Well, I’m writing a novel, but I’m not quite sure if I’m going to get there. My confidence dived. Believing my novel could not be published, I put it aside.

Then I met an agent（代理商）who said I should send my novel out to agents. So, I did and, to my surprise, got some wonderful feedback. I felt a little hope that I might actually become a published writer and, after signing with an agent, I finished the second half of the novel.

The next problem was finding a publisher. After two-and-a-half years of no income, just waiting and wondering, a publisher offered me a book deal — that publisher turned out to be the one I once worked for.

It feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck — of fate, really. When you set out to do something different, there’s no end in sight, so to find myself in a position where I now have my own name on a contract of the publisher — to be a published writer — is unbelievably rewarding.

68. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. I was waiting for good fortune.

B. I was trying to find an admirable job.

C. I was being aimless about a suitable job.

D. I was doing several jobs for more pay at a time.

69. The author decided to write a novel _______.

A. to finish the writing course

B. to realize her own dream

C. to satisfy readers’ wish

D. to earn more money

70. How did the writer feel halfway with the novel?

A. Disturbed.          B. Ashamed.         C. Confident.        D. Uncertain.

71. What does the author mainly want to tell readers in the last paragraph?

A. It pays to stick to one’s goal.

B. Hard work can lead to success.

C. She feels like being unexpectedly lucky.

D. There is no end in sight when starting to do something.

In a recent announcement, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said that they have joined forces to offer free online courses in an effect to attract millions of online learners worldwide.

Beginning this fall, a number of courses developed by teachers at both universities will be offered online through a new ＄60 million program, known as edX. “Anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world can use our online courses,” Harvard President Drew Faust said during a meeting to announce the plan.

MIT has offered a program called Open Course Ware for ten years that makes materials from more than 2,000 classes free online. It has been used by more than 100 million people. In December, the school announced it also would begin offering a special certificate, known as MITx, for people who complete certain online courses. Harvard has long offered courses to a wider population through a similar program.

The MITx will serve as the foundation for the new learning platform.

MIT President Susan Hockfield said more than 120,000 people signed up for the first MITx course. She said Harvard and MIT hope other universities will join them in offering courses on the open-source edX platform.

“Fasten your seatbelts,” Hockfield said.

Other universities, including Stanford, Yale and Carnegie-Mellon, have been experimenting with teaching to a global population online.

The Harvard-MIT program will be monitored by a not-for-profit（非盈利）organization based in Cambridge, to be owned equally by the two universities. Both MIT and Harvard have provided ＄30 million to start the program. They also plan to use the edX platform to research how students learn and which teaching methods and tools are most successful.

64. According to this text, edX is __________.

A. a part of the free MIT Open Course Ware

B. a free computer program by MIT and Harvard

C. a Harvard-MIT platform of free online courses

D. a free program online for universities worldwide

65. What is said about online education in the text?

A. Universities have been trying online courses

B. About 2,000 online courses have been offered.

C. Over 100 million people have finished courses online

D. Stanford and Yale together have courses similar to edX.

66. The underlined part in the text probably means “__________.”

A. Get ready for the difficulties.

B. Get ready for this educational change.

C. Get prepared to complete the online courses.

D. Get prepared to make materials for the edX courses.

67. What can be said about MITx according to the text?

A. It is first offered as part of the edX learning program.

B. It is another free MIT-Harvard online learning program.

C. It is a standard to recognize online learners’ achievement.

D. It is a new kind of free online course of Harvard and MIT.

PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER WANTED

A well-known printing company, now well established in the UK and in the Far East, wishes to set up a manufacturing base in Europe. An experienced manager, responsible to the Production Director, is required to assist in setting up the department and will then take charge of the day-to-day work.

The successful applicant will have had experience of modern methods and machines especially in the printing, multicolour work and finishing processes; He / She will have had at least three years’ experience in cost-effective management. A good working knowledge of English is essential.

We offer excellent pay and prospects, with 4 weeks’ holiday a year plus public holidays, a company car, and a company pension scheme(養(yǎng)老金制度).

Interviews will be arranged in the nearest city to applicant’s home.

Write, with CV, to the Personnel Manager, Box 32507, Daily News, Kemsworth Street, Comston, United Kingdom SG186 37AH.

ASSISTANT PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER

An internationally recognized printing company is seeking to set up a manufacturing plant in Europe.

We are appointing an assistant (male or female) to our Print Production Manager. The job-holder will carry out duties involving the buying of paper and of finishing equipment, will liaise (聯(lián)絡(luò)) with the supervisors of the various production lines, and will assist the Production Manager.

At least three years’ experience on one or more lines as well as supervisory experience is needed. A working knowledge of English is required to communicate with colleagues in the UK.

We offer excellent pay, prospects, holidays, pension scheme, sick pay, etc.

Write to the Manager, Box 3526, Broad Street, Northby, Millshire BK 57PX.

61. Both the printing companies ______.

A. are well-known all over the world

B. require at least three years’ experience

C. offer excellent pay and sick pay

D. prefer to hire a man manager

62. According to the first advertisement, the applicant living in a small village will ______.

A. get in touch with the Personnel Manager by telephone

B. get the result on TV

C. be interviewed in a city

D. write to Box 3526 to get more information

63. We can infer from the two advertisements that ______.

A. the companies want to do business in Europe and Far East

B. cars are necessary for the successful applicants

C. the companies haven’t got telephones to save money

D. applicants should write to the company first

S. H. E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, “Is that true?” cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl and S. H. E. fan in Shanghai.

After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E.’s performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.

The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers’ English names.

Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.

At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.

“I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don’t understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show,” said Peng about the Shanghai performance.

It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have thrilled (make sb. excited) audiences. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.

When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. “We had never met before, and we didn’t talk at all at the beginning,” recalled Ella.

When asked about the secret of their success, she said, “Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girl next door, your singing sisters.”

“It’s really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols. Nothing but magical,” she said.

56. What makes Peng Weiye, a senior 2 girl, so excited?

A. She is the one who will be met by S. H. E.

B. S. H. E. will perform in Las Vegas over Christmas.

C. Her parents bought her a ticket for S. H. E.’s Shanghai show.

D. S. H. E. will perform on the annual CCTV Spring Festival Evening.

57. How did the Taiwanese band get the name?

A. Their fans gave the name to them.

B. Their idols had a deep influence on them.

C. A singing contest gave their idea of the band name.

D. The first letter of each of the singers’ English names make up the band name.

58. What do you know about Peng Weiye?

A. She stayed outside the Hongkou Stadium to listen to S. H. E.

B. She will watch the performance in Guangzhou on January 15.

C. She pays close attention to everything about S. H. E.

D. She appreciates that her parents understood her well.

59. What does the underline phrase “average looks” in Paragraph 9 mean?

A. They look beautiful.

B. They look ugly.

C. They look ordinary.

D. They look special.

60. Which is true about S. H. E.?

A. They caused a storm of excitement in Southeast Asia.

B. They have well prepared to perform with their idols.

C. They were close friends when they entered a singing contest.

D. Their secret to success is the pretty faces and expensive clothes.

A feeling of excitement overcame me as I looked around the stadium.

At 5:30 pm, two hours before game time, I walked into the locker room（更衣室. My    _36  of school, music and what I planned to do on Saturday night were   37   with the simple aim to beat the football team across the field from us tonight.

Approaching my locker（衣物柜）, I noticed my teammates   38  . Some rested on benches, staring up at the ceiling _ 39   it were a film of the opposing team’s play. Some seemed a bit more   40  , using the time to tell jokes. A few stared at the field,  _41   what would happen in 120 minutes.

Our coach, Tony Severino, came out of his office at 6 o’clock. He told the team how   42    this game was for the season, between two of the state’s top teams — my school and our opposing team, Liberty High School. His words gave the team impulse (沖動(dòng)) it needed to   43  .

At 7:10 pm, warm – ups finished, we went over the game   44   and discussed what we needed to do for the next three hours. The sound of the national anthem (國歌)   45   that we were only minutes from the action. Our coach usually made a final   46  . But tonight was different. On this clear night he   47   looked around the room at all the players and shouted, “Let’s go and get them.” Even   48   the “get” came out of his mouth, we were already   49    our way out of the door.

Outside, a few young fans reached to touch our hands, eager to be a   50   of our school’s winning tradition. When I smiled and   51   my hand, the young faces lit up as if they had just met Superman.

Seconds later, the team ran onto the   52  , moving as a mass of blue, in front of a packed stadium. We enjoyed a noisy   53   from fans and the fight song played by our school band. Breathing in the   54   of one of the biggest games of the year, I felt we were sure to win. I told myself, “This was what it was all about” and   55   that it was for moments like this that I loved high school football.

36. A. thoughts y              B. ideas                      C. pictures                  D. minds

37. A. covered                  B. mixed                     C. replaced                 D. filled

38. A. exercising               B. struggling               C. preparing                D. previewing

39. A. in case                    B. even though            C. as long as               D. as if

40. A. relaxed                   B. worried                  C. frightened               D. impressed

41. A. dreaming                B. wishing                  C. expecting               D. imagining

42. A. useless                   B. difficult                  C. available                 D. important

43. A. warm up                 B. pick up                   C. get up                    D. rise up

44. A. route                      B. frame                     C. plan                       D. forecast

45. A. urged                     B. insisted                   C. suggested               D. stressed

46. A. speech                    B. preparation             C. decision                 D. change

47. A. finally                     B. simply                    C. actually                  D. eventually

48. A. when                      B. before                    C. as                          D. since

49. A. leading                    B. dragging                 C. showing                 D. making

50. A. player                     B. friend                     C. part                       D. team

51. A. held out                  B. took out                 C. got out                   D. brought out

52. A. field                       B. stage                      C. yard                       D. garden

53. A. success                  B. reply                      C. achievement           D. welcome

54. A. atmosphere             B. experience              C. expectation             D. examination

55. A. accepted                 B. admitted                 C. realized                  D. recognized

 Between the two roads ________ a TV tower called “Skyscraper Tower”.

A. stands                         B. standing                 C. which stands            D. stand

 When in winter, hibernating animals have no choice ________ and sleep.

A. but lie down              B. except lie down

C. but to lie down            D. except lying down

At the news that she won the World Title, the lovely girl couldn't _____ her emotion and burst into tears.

A. hold on B. hold out C. hold up D. hold back

 _____, could you please group buy 2 tickets for me?

A. If you are convenient               B. If is convenient to you

C. If it’s convenient to you                  D. If you are possible