1 . 【课本原文】

CHEMICAL VERSUS ORGANIC FARMING

Chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers have been in widespread use in farming since the middle of the 20th century. When they were first introduced, many farmers welcomed them as a great way to fight crop disease and increase production. Over time, however, what some scientists have found is that their long­term use can sometimes harm both the land and people’s health.

For example, pesticides can damage the land by killing not only harmful bacteria and insects, but also helpful ones. In addition, these chemicals can stay in the soil and underground water sources for a long time. This affects the crops grown on the land and, in turn, the animals and humans who digest them. Many people worry that these chemicals may make them ill and even cause cancer. In fact, some pesticides like DDT have been prohibited in most countries because of the damage they cause to people and the environment. As for chemical fertilisers, crops grown with them usually grow too fast to be rich in nutrition. They may look beautiful on the outside, but inside there is usually more water than essential minerals, and they often have less flavour as well.

As an alternative, some farmers have switched to organic farming, and many customers have turned to organic food when they shop at the local grocery. Organic farming is simply farming without using any chemicals. Organic farmers focus on keeping their soil rich and free of disease through natural means. For example, many organic farmers use natural waste from animals as fertiliser. This makes the soil in their fields richer in minerals. It also keeps the air, soil, water, and crops free of chemicals.

Organic farmers also use many other methods to produce rich soil. They often change the kind of crop grown in each field every year. For instance, they may grow corn or wheat in a field one year, and then grow beans there the next. Why different crops are grown is that they put important minerals back into the ground, making it ready for the next batch of crops. Organic farmers also plant diverse crops that use different depths of soil to help keep it rich. For example, peanuts grow on the ground’s surface, but many other vegetables put down deep roots. The goal of using different organic farming methods is to grow good food while avoiding damage to the environment or to people’s health.

Some people would prefer to stop the use of man­made chemicals in agriculture entirely. What keeps them from doing so is the fact that chemical farming serves the high demand for food around the world. Organic farming is nowhere near able to meet that need. Therefore, there is still a long way to find a suitable solution that puts sufficient food on the dinner table while keeping people and the environment as healthy as possible.

1. Why did many farmers welcome the introduction of chemical farming?

A．They can fight crop disease and increase production.

B．They harm both the land and people’s health.

C．They can help produce rich soil.

D．They are not expensive.

2. What concerns many people about the use of pesticides?

A．Pesticides can damage the land.

B．Chemicals can stay in the soil for a long time.

C．Pesticides can kill harmful bacteria and insects.

D．Chemicals may make people ill and even cause cancer.

3. Why do organic farmers change the kind of crop grown in each field every few years?

A．It helps put important minerals back into the ground.

B．It can avoid damage to the environment.

C．It can help increase output.

D．The writer didn’t tell us.

4. Why can’t we stop the use of man­made chemicals in agriculture entirely?

A．Organic farming cost us a lot of money.

B．Organic farming can meet people’s need.

C．Chemical farming brought us huge profit.

D．Chemical farming helps serve the need for food.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话,回答以下小题。
1. How does the man get the information about homeless population?

A．From an article.

B．From the radio.

C．From TⅤ.

2. How does the woman feel about the figures of homeless people?

A．Proper.

B．Amazed.

C．Puzzled.

3. Which country has the highest percentage of homeless people?

A．India.

B．The US.

C．Germany.

4 . 阅读理解
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Settled by the Celts, invaded by the Romans and the Normans, and ruled by the English, Wales’ population has regularly changed over the ages. Wales, particularly South Wales, became a melting pot (熔炉) of European nationalities and cultures. At first workers from England, Ireland and the rural areas of Wales rushed into the coal mines of South Wales. By 1911, workers from Ireland, Italy and Spain had joined the industrial workforce (劳动大军) there. Many of these newcomers were prepared to work for less pay.
But during this period, workers, dissatisfied with regular pay cuts, poor safety, returned to the land. In 1891, the rural population of Wales was about 616,000 and by 1911 just over 649,000 people lived and worked in these areas.
The rural population continues to grow slowly even today. People from richer parts of the UK, particularly southern England, are buying holiday homes in Wales. In some areas this has led to a lack of housing for local people. This, combined with the lack of employment in rural Welsh communities, has started a new movement of people in search of jobs and homes into the towns and cities of Wales and to other parts of the UK and Europe.
As so many Welsh people have moved to other countries over the last 200 years, it’s really no surprise that many visitors come to see friends and relatives. These visitors strengthen their links to their land of origin and continue to support the Welsh’s development. During the hot summer days, about 28% of the visitors visit the countryside and nearly 70% visit the seaside.
1. Why was South Wales so attractive to people in the early 20th century?

A．Because its coal industry needed a large number of workers.

B．Because it was rich in many different kinds of culture.

C．Because people could buy holiday homes there.

D．Because people could get the highest pay there.

2. What does the writer want to tell us in the second paragraph?

A．Many people got tired of city life at this time.

B．The working conditions were terrible at this time.

C．Welsh workers couldn’t get any pay for their work.

D．The number of rural population of Wales grows slowly at this time.

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

A．Wales, a land with a promising past and future

B．Wales, a land with a population on the move

C．Wales, the biggest melting pot of Europe

D．Tourism, the main income source of Wales

5 . “Hey, little boy, will you support me when I’m getting old?” Wang Wenshan, 35, asked his newborn baby as he hugged him at home.

The Chinese tradition of raising sons to support parents in their old age has been weakened by the rapidly growing economy and improved standard of living. As is the case with more and more developed countries, China faces an aging society. People are living longer and having fewer children. Therefore, many Chinese families are falling into a 4-2-1 family pattern: a couple raises one child and supports four elderly parents. But few realize that a problem is likely to happen ahead.

The aging of the population is a trend that now affects a growing number of countries. The Information Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, issued（发行） a white paper on measures China has been taking to help its elderly population. The paper said China’s population entered the aging period at the end of the 20th century and the proportion of people aged 60 and above accounted for over 10 percent of the entire population. By the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people over 60, accounting for 11 percent of the population, according to the white paper.

An expanding aged population inevitably means that many issues must be settled, as the problem concerns every aspect of society. It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problems. It also challenges the labor force supply and the pension system.

“I used to think that it’s not an issue for me to provide for the aged,” said Wang, whose parents and parents-in-law all enjoy pensions and medical insurance. But last year Wang’s father suffered from a serious illness and afterward Wang began to feel the pressure on his shoulders.

After his father recovered, Wang opened a bank account for each parent and put away some money in the account every month to prepare for future uncertainties. In addition, he has to save money every month to provide for his son’s future education. “I’m now breaking my back to support my family: saving pensions for the parents, my son’s education funds, and living costs.”

Wang also bought some commercial old-age insurance for himself. “We have to take precautions(预防)before it is too late, and many of my colleagues share the same view,” he said.

1. Which of the following is not caused by an aging society?

A．Social problems.	B．Unemployment.
C．More pressure on each family.	D．The problem of the pension system.

2. From the passage, we can infer ________.

A．the aging problem is one of the concerns of the Chinese government

B．China will encourage young couples to have more than one child

C．many people have realized the aging problem

D．children will not support their parents in China

3. Which of the following can be used to replace the underlined word “inevitably”?

A．Surprisingly.	B．Certainly.
C．Hopefully.	D．Evidently.

4. From the passage, we can see that ________.

A．China is the only country to face an aging society

B．most of the developing countries face an aging society

C．countries with a large population face an aging society

D．more and more developed countries face an aging society