【推荐1】There are two species of crocodile in Australia—the saltwater crocodiles and the freshwater ones.

Saltwater crocodiles are among the world's largest crocodiles, with males often reaching five metres. But some can reach six to eight metres. Females grow up to 2.5 metres long.

Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, and coastal waters in northern Australia and eat a wide variety of prey. The young ones stick to insects, small reptiles and fish. But adults hunt for bigger prey like snakes, monkeys and cattle. And they have been known to attack humans.

Freshwater crocodiles, however, aren't usually dangerous to people. They live in freshwater streams, rivers and large water holes in northern Australia. Freshwater crocodiles aren't as big as saltwater ones either, reaching a length of three metres at most.

Crocodiles first appeared 200 million years ago and lived originally on land. But they soon evolved into aquatic (水生的) animals.

These reptiles are excellent predators (肉食动物) and have few natural enemies. Crocodiles have about 30 or 40 teeth in each jaw. And it is the jaw that gives a unique feature to them.

A crocodile can close its jaws with such force that it can break the bones of some animals. Yet, once the jaws are shut, they're so weak that they can be held together by a person's hand.

To reproduce, crocodiles, like other reptiles, lay eggs. One female can produce between 20 and 90 eggs at a time. Once laid, female crocodiles bury their eggs in sand or mud, where they are left to hatch. Some females stay in the area to protect the nest and look after the young after they hatch, but often other predators eat the eggs.

1. The largest crocodiles in Australia can reash a length of ________.

A．three metres	B．five metres
C．eight metres	D．ten metres

2. The following features of saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles have been mentioned in the passage except ________.

A．their eating habits

B．the law to find a mate

C．the key to their strong power

D．threat against their reproduction

3. What do saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles have in common?

A．Theh have the same size.

B．They both live in freshwater streams.

C．They are usually both dangerous to people.

D．They both live in northern Australia.

4. We can infer from Paragraph 7 that ________.

A．crocodiles close their jaws very quickly

B．crocodiles' jaws are easy to control when they are open

C．crocodiles are not dangerous to people when their jaws are closed

D．crocodiles' jaws are very powerful when closing

5. What usually happens after crocodile eggs are laid?

A．The eggs will be kept under the ground.

B．The eggs will be hatched by their parents.

C．The male crocodiles will protect the eggs.

D．The female crocodiles will leave the nest.

【推荐2】“Mobile phones killed our man.” screamed one headline last year. Also came statements that an unpublished study had found that mobile phones cause memory loss. And a British newspaper devoted its front page to a picture supposedly showing how mobile phones heat the brain. For anyone who uses a mobile phone, these are worring times. But speak to the scientists whose work is the focus of these scared and you will hear a different story.
What we do have, however, are some results suggesting that mobile phones’ emission(辐射) have a variety of strange effects on living tissue that can’t be explained by the general radiation biology. And it’s only when the questions raised by these experiments are answered that we’ll be able to say for sure what mobile phones might be doing to the brain.
One of the strange effects comes from the now famous “memory loss” study. Alan Preece and his colleagues at the University of Bristol placed a devic(装置) that copied the microwave emission of mobile phones to the left ear of volunteers. The volunteers were all good at recalling words and pictures they had been shown on a computer screen. Preece says he still can’t comment on the effects of using a mobile phone for years on end. But he rules out the suggesting that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our cognitive(感知的) abilities. “I’m pretty sure there is no short-term memory.” he says.
Another expert, Tatterasll, remarked that his latest findings have removed fears about memory loss. One result, for instance, suggests that nerve cell synapses(神经元突触) exposed to microwaves become more—rather than less—receptive to under-going changes linked to the memory formation.
It would be an even happier outcome if microwave turned out to be good for you. It sounds crazy, but a couple of years ago a team led by Willian Adey at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California found that mice exposed to microwave for two hours a day were less likely to develop brain tumours(肿瘤) when given a cancer-causing chemical.
So should we forget about mobile phone radiation causing brain tumours and making us unable to think clearly or reasonably?
“If it doesn’t cause cancer in animals and cells, then it probably isn’t going to cause cancer in humans,” says William. And while there’s still no absolute evidence that mobile phone does damage your memories or give your cancer, the_____ is: Don’t panic.
1. What worries people who use mobile phones?

A．Mobile phones will kill them.

B．Mobile phones cause memory loss.

C．Mobile phones heat the brain.

D．All above is right.

2. What is the attitude of Prece on the suggestion that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our congnitive abilities?

A．Doubt.

B．Disagree.

C．Approve.

D．Wait and see.

3. The underlined word “unanimity ”in the last paragraph most probably means “_______”.

A．consensus

B．disagreement

C．possibility

D．impossibility

4. From the fifth paragraph, we can infer that being exposed to microwaves for two hours _________.

A．can result in killing you

B．is likely develop brain tumours

C．is unlikely to develop brain tumours

D．will cause your loss of memory for ever

【推荐3】Insect numbers have quickly declined by half in some parts of the world due to climate change and intensive agriculture, a study has found. The combined influences of global heating and farming are driving a “substantial decline” of insects across the globe, according to UK researchers.

Lead researcher, Dr Charlie Outhwaite of University College of London, said losing insect populations could be harmful not only to the natural environment, but to human health and food security, particularly with losses of pollinators (传粉者). “Our findings highlight the urgency of actions to preserve natural habitats, slow the expansion of high-intensity agriculture, and cut emissions to reduce climate change,” she added.

The rapid decrease of populations of insects around the world has caused widespread concern. However, scientific data gives a mixed picture, with some types of insects showing extreme and sudden declines, while others are staying steady.

In the latest study published in Nature, the researchers pulled together data on the range and number of nearly 20,000 insect species, including bees, ants, butterflies and dragonflies, at about 6,000 different areas. In areas with high-intensity agriculture and on-going warming, insect numbers have quickly declined by 49%, compared with relatively untouched places that have so far avoided the most severe impacts of climate change.

“Careful management of agricultural areas, such as preserving natural habitats near farmland, may help to ensure that vital insects can still thrive (茁壮成长),” said Dr Tim Newbold, another study researcher. “We need to acknowledge how important insects are for the environment as a whole, and for human health and well-being, in order to address the threats we pose to them before many species are lost forever.

1. Which of the following can cause the fall in insect numbers according to the text?

A．Global warming.	B．Lack of food.
C．The change of seasons.	D．Habitat management.

2. What may Dr Charlie Outhwaite suggest?

A．Taking action to ensure food security.	B．Protecting natural habitats of insects.
C．Stopping developing agriculture.	D．Keeping insects at home.

3. How did the researchers draw the conclusion in the latest study?

A．By carrying out surveys.	B．By doing experiments.
C．By discussing questions.	D．By analyzing data.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．The loss of farmland.	B．The future of agriculture.
C．The decline of insect numbers.	D．The harm of climate change.

【推荐3】What could be perfect for the partner, who embarrasses you on the dance floor? Smart socks, which can teach people to dance, may be the answer for anyone with two left feet.

At first, the socks have been developed as a running tool to help runners improve their skills. Thanks to the socks, users can accurately record not only how far and fast they run but also how well. It means the user maximizes their performance, and reduces damage to body and prevents hurt. The hi-tech socks are made of special fibers (纤维) that watch the movements of your feet. They look, feel and can be washed like normal clothes.

Sensors record each movement and send it by an ankle transmitter (脚踝发射器) to a smart phone. Then a “virtual coach” application shows the information and can tell the user what they are doing wrong, and help to improve skill in any task with feet.

The socks should be useful to athletes and weekend joggers. “People think running is so easy and of course everybody can do it but not necessarily safely and well,” Dr Davide Vigano said. A recent study showed that between 60 and 80 percent of runners got hurt per year. This is petty much more than any other human activity. Researchers say the technology can also be developed to teach people how to dance, play sports such as golf, or even to help to teach women to walk better in high heels.

Mr. Vigano said, “People could all benefit from the idea. We have had interest from all sorts of sports, like skiing, football, cycling and golf. Anything where you have to use your feet can use it. It could even be put in high heels to help women walk in them safely.”

Socks are just the start, and the technology could be used in gloves, hats and bots. The socks, anklet and software package, are expected to be sold for around £120, which will go on sale in March.

1. What does the underlined part “anyone with two left feet” refer to in paragraph 1?

A．People who are disabled.	B．People who do not like dancing.
C．People who are good at dancing.	D．People who are poor at dancing.

2. Why were smart socks developed in the beginning?

A．To help women walk safely.	B．To teach people to dance.
C．To improve runners’ performance	D．To record dance movement.

3. What’s special about fibers that the socks are made of?

A．They are expensive to produce.

B．They can monitor the movement of feet.

C．They feel much softer than normal clothes.

D．They should be washed in a special washing machine

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．The technology could bring a potential market.

B．All people can run safely and well thanks to the socks.

C．The technology has been widely used in all sorts of sports.

D．Only professional athletes can benefit from the technology.

【推荐3】I. M. Pei, one of the best-known architects of the 20th century, has died. He was 102. Born in China, Ieoh Ming Pei moved to the United States in 1935 to study architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

Pei’s works around the world include museums, government buildings, hotels, schools and other structures built with stone, steel and glass. One of his best-known and most disputed works was built 30 years ago. Pei created a new entrance for the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris. Pei first spent four months studying the museum and French history. He then drew plans for a 21-meter-tall steel and glass id, with three smaller pyramids nearby. It was a very futuristic style of work for the 12th-century building.

A French newspaper criticized Pei’s pyramids as “an annex to Disneyland”. An environmental group said they belonged in a desert. Others accused Pei of ruining one of the world’s greatest landmarks.

Pei said the Louvre was the most difficult job of his career. He argued that he had wanted to create a modern space that would not take away from the traditional part of the museum. He said the glass pyramids were based on the works of French landscape architect Le Notre. They honored French history.

The pyramids opened in the spring of 1989. Over the years that followed, the structure came to be loved by most, if not all, of its critics.

Other well-known Pei buildings include the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Dallas City Hall in Texas. Pei officially retired in 1990. However, he continued to work on projects—including museums in Luxembourg, Qatar and his ancestral home of Suzhou.

1. What is true about the entrance created by Pei for the Louvre Museum?

A．Pei spent four mouths drawing plans for it.	B．There are four pyramids in total.
C．It’s in a style of the 12th century.	D．It took 30 years to complete the work.

2. What can we infer from Pei’s words in Paragraph 4?

A．The glass pyramids were originally designed by Le Notre.

B．The glass pyramids were based on the French landscape.

C．The glass pyramids were in harmony with the Louvre.

D．The glass pyramids reflected both French and Chinese style.

3. What were most people’s attitudes towards Pei’s pyramids years after its opening?

A．Indifferent.	B．Puzzled.
C．Critical.	D．Favorable.

4. What do we know about Pei according to the passage?

A．He was hardworking, optimistic and easygoing.

B．He spread Chinese traditional architecture to the world.

C．He created many great works both in China and other countries.

D．He was the most outstanding architect of the 20th century.

【推荐1】If you think about the countless number of animal species on our planet, the giraffe is perhaps one of the most interesting. With its unusual pattern and incredibly long neck, it looks like no other animal on Earth. But how did this mammal come to get its famously huge neck? Well, scientists have been asking themselves this question for centuries.

The most commonly believed answer is that the massive neck — which measures on average 180 centimeters and weighs about 270 kilograms — evolved to allow the animal to reach the leaves of tall trees.

British scientist Charles Darwin was one of the first people to propose this idea in the 1800s.“The giraffe… has its whole frame beautifully adapted for browsing on the higher branches of trees,”he wrote in his famous 1859 book On the Origin of Species. It was Darwin’s belief that the giraffe once had a much shorter neck, but over time, evolution led to longer-necked giraffes being born, which in turn survived as they were able to reach the food that others couldn’t. Yet, there are other theories. According to a paper published in September in the Journal of Arid Environments, the giraffe’s neck evolved to increase its surface-area-to-volume ratio. Because the animal’s neck increases its body’s surface area, it makes it easier for it to keep cool, the paper’s authors wrote. This phenomenon can be seen everywhere in nature, and even in engineering.

For example, this is why elephants have such large ears, and why radiators (暖气片) in homes are flat and thin, as a large surface area allows heat to escape quicker.

Meanwhile, some believe that competition is the answer. A 1996 study by two South African zoologists argued that the male giraffes with the biggest necks are the ones who “win” access to females to reproduce, as they are better at fighting, meaning that their long necks are passed down through the generations. So, it seems like there’s still no definite answer to the question. But until we find the truth, we should at least enjoy this beautiful and interesting creature for what it is today, rather than wonder about where it came from.

1. What idea did Charles Darwin put forward in his book?

A．Giraffe’s necks are 180 cm long and weigh 270 kg on average.

B．Giraffes with a long neck are better at fighting.

C．Giraffes are a species that is born with a long neck.

D．Longer-necked giraffes are able to survive better.

2. What is the article mainly about?

A．Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

B．Different functions of the giraffe’s long neck.

C．How the giraffe manages to survive in nature.

D．Theories about why the giraffe has a huge neck.

【推荐2】On a mid-September day,scientists Chris Rimmer and Bill DeLuca drive to the top of the highest mountain in Vermont.They lower themselves down a sleep reeky path and hike through a forest until they find a good spot.Then they pull out nets and old ski racing poles,hoping to catch the blackpoll warbler to measure,tag（贴标签）,and then release them in Mount Mansfield.It is on an open space in the woods that the nets are set.

The blackpoll warbler is a first-size bird with an unusually high-pitched song.They have a black cup,white cheeks and white wing bas.In the fall,thousands of these songbirds travel from their mountaintop summer homes in Canada,Alaska and New England to the northeast coast of the United States to prepare for a dangerous journey.For weeks,they fill their bellies with food until their bodies can hold no more.And one fall day,when the sky in clear and the wind is calm,they begin to fly.They fly east to catch the tail winds,then fly south.

The blackpolls'numbers are dropping so fast that they ae in danger.Thus,tracking their migration（迁徙）helps determine why that is.DeLuea and Rimmer work until dark placing nets and then sleep on the floor of a nearby hut.They return before sunrise and find dozens of blackpolls in the nets.

Rimmer holds a blackpoll,and closes a tiny aluminum band around its leg.Each band has a nine-digit number for tracking.They need to understand what's hurting them to protect them.When Rimmer is done,he opens his hand,and the songbird flies farther up the mountain and lands on a branch,facing south.This blackpoll's long journey will begin soon but not today.

1. Where do scientists set nets?

A．At mountain foot.	B．Beside a rocky road.
C．In a forest clearing.	D．Around the tree branches.

2. What do we knew about the blackpoll warbler?

A．They are small birds with soft voice.

B．They are black songbirds with white wings.

C．They travel to the US Northeast Coast for winter.

D．They fly east with the winds before heading south.

3. Why are blackpolls tagged a small metal band?

A．To figure how they become fewer.	B．To warn people not to hurt them.
C．To remind them to return on time.	D．To help them to find the direction.

4. What's the text mainly about?

A．A long migration of blackpolls.

B．An outdoor birdwatching activity.

C．A rescue of an endangered bird.

D．The achievements of two scientists.

【推荐3】University Room Regulations Approved and Forbidden Items

The following items are approved for use in residential (住宿的) rooms: electric blankets, hair dryers, personal computers, radios, televisions and DVD players. Items that are not allowed in student rooms include: candles, ceiling fans, fireworks, waterbeds, sun lamps and wireless routers. Please note that any forbidden items will be taken away by the Office of Residence Life.

Access to Residential Rooms

Students are provided with a combination（组合密码） for their room door locks upon check-in. Do not share your room door lock combination with anyone. The Office of Residence Life may change the door lock combination at any time at the expense of the resident if it is found that the student has shared the combination with others. The fee is $25 to change a room combination.

Cooking Policy

Students living in buildings that have kitchens are only permitted to cook in the kitchen. Students must clean up after cooking. This is not the responsibility of housekeeping staff. Kitchens that are not kept clean may be closed for use. With the exception of using a small microwave oven (微波炉) to heat food, students are not permitted to cook in their rooms.

Quiet Hours

Residential buildings must maintain an atmosphere that supports the academic mission of the University. Minimum quiet hours in all campus residences are 11:00 pm to 8:00 am Sunday through Thursday. Quiet hours on Friday and Saturday nights are 1:00 am to 8:00 am. Students who violate quiet hours are subject to a fine of $25.

1. Which of the following items are allowed in student rooms?

A．Ceiling fans and waterbeds.	B．Wireless routers and radios.
C．Hair dryers and candles.	D．TVs and electric blankets.

2. What if a student is found to have told his combination to others?

A．The combination should be changed.	B．The Office should be charged.
C．He should replace the door lock.	D．He should check out of the room.

3. What do we know about the cooking policy?

A．A microwave oven can be used.

B．Cooking in student rooms is permitted.

C．A housekeeper is to clean up the kitchen.

D．Students are to close kitchen doors after cooking.

4. When can students enjoy a party in residences?

A．7:00 am, Sunday.

B．7:30 am, Thursday.

C．11:30 pm, Monday.

D．00:30 am, Saturday.