Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through
carefully before making your choices. Each choice in bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the
corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2. You may not use any of the words in the
bank more than once.
Questions 31 to 40 are based on the following passage.
Do not treat all new words in exactly the same way. Have you ever 31 about your memory because you find it simply impossible to memorize all the new words you are learning But, in fact, it is not your 32 that is at fault. If you cram your head with too many new words 33 a time, some of them are 34 to be crowded out. What you need to do is to 35 with new words in different ways 36 to how frequently they occur in everyday use. While active words __37 constant practice and useful words must be committed to memory, words that do not often 38 in everyday situations require just a nodding acquaintance. You will find 39 on active and useful words the most 40 route to enlarging your vocabulary.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
Section B
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C), D). You should decide on the
best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Passage One
Questions 41 to 45 are based on the following passage.
Is El Nino Back
There are signs that El Nino, the massive warming of the Pacific Ocean that affects the world’s weather, may be forming again.
A satellite (卫星) orbiting 600 miles above the Pacific Ocean picked up a streak (条, 带) of warm water forming along the equator (赤道) —an early sign of the phenomenon felt around the world when it last appeared, just four years ago.
It is more than 3,000 miles long. The water in it is nine degrees warmer than in surrounding areas —a substantial (相当大的) number to oceanographers (海洋学家), the warm pool is growing and has caused government forecasters to put out an advisory (气象报告).
“It’s a heads-up in advance so that people can properly be prepared for this event.” Said Vernon Kousky of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
If a full-blown El Nino does form, Americans would most likely start to feel its effects next fall and winter.
The government called the forecast very preliminary (初步的) —but the warning allows emergency agencies to make plans.
“Right now, we can’t predict whether it will be weak, moderate (中等的) or strong in intensity (强度),” said Kousky.
Some Scientists say it’s too early to predict anything at all. “I’d be very careful,” said one who asked not to be named. “There is indeed a very large anomaly (反常状态) in the Pacific right now, and we need to watch it. But these things are very difficult to forecast.”
El Ninos can be both good and bad, depending on where you are. Even a relatively small one can bring about significant changes by shifting the wind patterns from the Pacific Ocean that pass over the United States.
During the last El Nino, in 1997 and 1998, rainfall doubled in California, causing a $ 1 billion in storm damage. On the other hand, in Florida, forest fires were put out by the extra rain.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
41. What can be regarded as an early sign of El Nino
A) A 3,000-mile long water streak.
B) A water streak that is warmer than surrounding areas.
C) A streak of water forming along the equator.
D) A huge warm water streak along the equator.
42. “The warm pool” in the third paragraph refers to ________.
A) the Pacific Ocean
B) the 3,000-mile long warm water streak
C) the Atlantic Ocean
D) a new El Nino
43. Why is it necessary to forecast the coming El Nino
A) Because it would affect Americans next fall and winter.
B) Because scientists will be able to know whether it will be weak, moderate or strong in intensity.
C) Because emergency agencies will be able to make plans to prepare for it.
D) Because scientists will be able to observe the formation of the El Nino.
44. What is the main idea of the last two paragraphs
A) El Nino can be both beneficial and harmful to us, depending on where it happens.
B) Even a small El Nino can bring about great changes.
C) An El Nino caused one billion dollars’ worth of damage to California.
D) An El Nino put out forest fires in Florida.
45. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “heads-up” (Paragraph 4)
A) Rise. B) Warning. C) Threat. D) Indicator.
Passage Two
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
The Earth’s Atmosphere
Unless it’s raining or the wind is blowing, we don’t usually pay much attention to the atmosphere, the blanket of ai that surrounds the Earth. Yet, without the atmosphere, the Earth would be a desolate (荒芜的) planet with no sign of life!
The atmosphere plays several roles in helping to make life possible. First, the atmosphere provides the three gases necessary for life: oxygen (氧气), nitrogen (氮气), and carbon dioxide (二氧化碳). All animals, including ourselves, breathe oxygen. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are both needed for plant growth. Less important atmospheric gases include argon (氩), neon (氖), helium (氦), and hydrogen (氢).
Second, the atmosphere also protects us from most of the sun’s high-energy ultraviolet light rays (紫外线), which are harmful to life. Although these rays are only a small part of the sunlight striking the Earth, they are known to be very dangerous. However, 99 percent of all ultraviolet rays are absorbed before they reach the Earth’s surface. They are absorbed by an atmospheric gas, called ozone (臭氧), a type of oxygen gas. The ozone layer surrounds the Earth but is much thinner over the North and South Poles than over other regions of the Earth.
The one percent of the ultraviolet light in the atmosphere that does reach the Earth’s surface is known to cause sunburn and is now believed to also cause skin cancer in many people. Because of this, doctors recommend that people limit the amount of time the spend in direct sunlight and wear a suntan lotion (防晒油) that blocks the ultraviolet rays when they do sunbathe.
Finally, the atmosphere generates all types of weather such as clear blue skies and storms. It acts as a huge energy machine, changing sunlight into other forms of energy such as heat and wind. As part of this role, the atmosphere regulates the temperature at the Earth’s surface. First it allows only 46 percent of the sunlight striking it to pass through and actually reach the Earth’s surface. Second, carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere controls the amount of warmth on the Earth’s surface that it allowed to radiate (发散) back into space. By these two controlling devices, the atmosphere regulates the Earth’s surface temperature.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
46. Which of the following is true according to the passage
A) The ozone layer is much thicker over North America than over the North Pole.
B) Ozone is a type of nitrogen gas.
C) Ozone can absorb some ultraviolet rays before they reach the Earth’s surface.
D) Ozone can protect us from anything harmful to our life.
47. The main idea of the third passage is that ________.
A) the Earth is surrounded by a layer of ozone
B) 99 percent of all ultraviolet light rays that reach the Earth’s surface are absorbed by the ozone layer
C) the ozone layer protects people from the sun’s high-energy ultraviolet light rays
D) ozone is an atmosphere gas which surrounds the earth
48. According to the article, carbon dioxide ________.
