Ants have a reputation for strength,organization and teamwork.But researchers have now discovered that a key secret to the success of ants is their ability to identify the importance of age in the work place.

A study of Gentral American leaf-cutter ants has shown that the younger and stronger members are give the toughest job of cutting therough the leaves they harvest.Their sharp youn teeth do this job effectively,but as they get older their teeth become relatively worn and blunt.

But rather than being retired or abandoned by the group,the ageing ants are given a new role more suyted to their physical abilities.They become carriers and teansport the leaves back to the kingdom where they are harvested for food.

The findings by researchers from the University of Oregon and the Oregong State University support previous research showin the survival of a leaf-cutter kingdom depends on the efficiency(效率）of is workers.

“Cuting leaves is hard work,”said Dr.Robert Schofield,who led the research team.“Much of the cutting is done with a V-shaped blade(刀片）between teeth on their jaws.This blade starts out as sharp as the sharpest razor blade that humans have developed.”But over rime the teeth become blunter and the cutting job slows down.The team estimated that,because of this age-related wear,a colony(蚁群)spent twice the energy cutting leaves than it would if all the ants had sharp blades.Its findings support the idea that wear and break can be significant problems for insects as well as largre animals.

Like humans,leaf-cuttre ant recognize that older members of the group can still make a worhwhile contribution to society.“This study shows an advantage of social living that we are familiar with,”said Dr.Schofield.

1.The younger and stronger ants do the toughest job because      .

A．they can teansport the leaves effectively

B．they have a sharp blade to cut leaves

C．other members are busy with other work

D．they can finish the job in a better organized way

2.The undrelined word“blunt”in the second paragraph can be replaced by      .

A．quite loose	B．less sharp
C．quite fragile	D．more dirty

3.What happens to the ants when they become old?

A．They no longer hve work to do.

B．They keep doing the same work.

C．They have to leave and live on themselves.

D．They are given a new worthwhile job.

4.It can be learned from the passage that       .

A．Dr.Schofield is the first to research leaf-cuttre ants

B．older ants are more powerful in carrying leaves

C．large animals can also suffer from some kind of wear

D．leaf-cutter ants are the most lever ants in the world

5.What can be the best title for the passage?

A．The key secret to the success of ants

B．The developed structure of ant colony

C．The most challenging job for leaf-cutter ants

D．No V-shaped blade,no success of ants

 

 

第五部分：任务型阅读（共10小题，每小题0.5分，满分5分）

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应的横线上。

Although the dangers of too little sleep are widely known, new research suggests that people who sleep too much may also suffer the consequences(后果).

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego found that people who sleep 9 or 10 hours each weeknight appear to have more trouble falling and staying asleep, as well as a number of other sleep problems, than people who sleep 8 hours a night. People who slept only 7 hours each night also said they had more trouble in falling asleep and feeling refreshed（恢复体力）after a night’s sleep than 8-hour sleepers.

These findings, which Dr. Daniel Kriple reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, shows that people who want to get a good night’s rest may not need to sleep more than 8 hours each night. He added that “it might be a good idea ” for people who sleep more than 8 hours each night to consider reducing the amount of time they spend in bed, but reminded that research is needed to prove this.

Previous studies have shown the hidden dangers of lack of sleep for a long time—for instance, one report showed that people who usually sleep less than 7 hours each night have a higher risk of dying within a fixed period than people who sleep more.

For the current report, Kripke reviewed the responses of 1,004 adults to sleep questionnaires (问卷), in which participants(参与者) indicated how much they slept during the week and whether they experienced any sleep problems. Sleep problems included waking in the middle of the night, waking up early in the morning and being unable to fall back to sleep, and feeling tired with day-to-day functioning（运转）.

Kripke found that people who slept between 9 and 10 hours each night most probably report experiencing each sleep problem than people who slept 8 hours. In an interview, Kripke noted that longer sleepers may struggle to get rest at night simply because they spend too much time in bed. As evidence, he added that one way to deal with insomnia（失眠）is to spend less time in bed. “It means that if a person spends too long a time in bed, then they’ll spend a higher percentage of time awake,” he said.  

Title	Sleeping too   81    －Not a good thing.
Introduction	Although the dangers of too little sleep are known, new research suggests people who  82   may suffer the consequences.
Findings	● People wanting a good night’s rest needn’t sleep more than 8 hours each night. ● People sleeping over 8 hours are   83   to reduce the time in bed. ● People sleeping between 9 and 10 hours are more   84  to experience each sleep problem. ● People sleeping   85    may struggle to get rest at night.
Studies	Previous studies have shown one hidden danger of shortages of sleeps: shorter sleepers may risk their  86   .
Report	According to the current report, the participants interviewed indicated their sleeping problems as: waking at midnight, __87__up too early and   88   to fall back asleep.
89	One way to   90   insomnia is to spend less time in bed.

 

Fish Ears Tell Fish Tales

　 Fish have ears. Really. They’re quite small and have no opening to the outside world carrying sound through the body. For the past seven years, Simon Thorrold, a university professor, has been examining fish ears, small round ear bones called otoliths (耳石).

　 As fish grow, so do their otoliths. Each day, their otoliths gain a ring of calcium carbonate (碳酸钙). By looking through a microscope and counting these rings, Thorrold can determine the exact age of a young fish. As a fish gets older, its otoliths no longer get daily rings. Instead, they get yearly rings, which can also be counted, giving information about the fish’s age, just like the growth rings of a tree.

　 Ring counting is nothing new to fish scientists. But Thorrold has turned to a new direction. They’re examining the chemical elements (元素) of each otolith ring.

　 The daily ring gives us the time, but chemistry tells us about the environment in which the fish swam on any given day. These elements tell us about the chemistry of the water that the fish was in. It also says something about water temperature, which determines how much of these elements will gather within each otolith ring.

　 Thorrold can tell, for example, if a fish spent time in the open ocean before entering the less salty water of coastal areas. He can basically tell where fish are spending their time at any given stage of history.

　 In the case of the Atlantic croaker, a popular saltwater food fish, Thorrold and his assistant have successfully followed the travelling of young fish from mid-ocean to the coast, a journey of many hundreds of miles.

　 This is important to managers in the fish industry, who know nearly nothing about the whereabouts of the young fish for most food fish in the ocean. Eager to learn about his technology, fish scientists are now lending Thorrold their ears.

What can we learn about fish ears from the text?

　A. They are small soft rings.

　B. They are not seen from the outside.

　C. They are openings only on food fish.

　D. They are not used to receive sound.

Why does the writer compare the fish to trees?

　A. Trees gain a growth ring each day.

　B. Trees also have otoliths.

　C. Their growth rings are very small.

　D. They both have growth rings.

Why is it important to study the chemistry of otolith rings?

　A. The elements of the otoliths can tell the history of the sea.

　B. Chemical contents of otoliths can tell how fast fish can swim.

　C. We can know more about fish and their living environment.

　D. Scientists can know exactly how old a fish is.

How would you understand “fish scientists are now lending their ears”?

　A. They are very interested in Thorrold’s research findings.

　B. They want to know where they can find fish.

　C. They lend their fish for chemical studies.

　D. They wonder if Thorrold can find growth rings from their ears.　

Sports Tickets

Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M.	New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles	$20~$850
Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets	$35~$1000
Mon., Nov. 8th, 2011 4:15 P.M.	Sam Diego Chargers vs. New York Giants	$40~$1500
Mon., Nov. 15th, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Jacksonville Kaguars vs. New York Jets	$21~$6100
Mon., Nov. 22nd, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants	$40~$19500
Mon., Nov. 29th, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets	$10~$12000
Mon., Dec. 3rd, 2011 8:20 P.M.	New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills	$97~$800

Volunteers Wanted!

    We conduct studies to evaluate new medications for sleep disorder．Both healthy adults and patients suffering from insomnia are sought to participate in these studies．

    You may be qualified to take part as a healthy adult volunteer if you are aged 18 or over and are willing to have your sleep patterns recorded．Further, if you meet these standards and also suffer from a little sleep disorder you may be able to sign our register of patients．

Warnings:

    ☆ Always control your child when he is first learning to skateboard．To best assist a beginner, hold one of the child’s hands and guide him along a smooth and level surface．

    ☆ A safety helmet and elbow, wrist and knee pads must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．

    ☆ Sneakers must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．Don’t let your child skate in bare feet, sandals or any other open-toed shoes．

    ☆ Never let your child skateboard in the street．

    ☆ Never tow skateboarders with a bicycle or a car．

    ☆ Skateboard only in daylight．

Parents, there is a Tropical Paradise for kids too!

    The Pacific Islands Club knows something others don’t．Kids are on holiday and they want to be pampered （纵容）, too．Our kids’ Club of PIC Guam is free of charge and has both indoor and outdoor activities ensuring a really great time to children aged 4 to 12．Open daily from 09: 00 a．m．．Clubmates will accompany children to all of the exciting play areas．They will also love to join the other children for the special meals we have prepared just for them．

1.If you want to watch a play by New York Jets but pay the least money, you should go _____．

A．Mon., Nov.15^th, 2011 1:00 P.M.       

B．Mon., Nov.1^st, 2011 1:00 P.M.

C．Mon., Nov.29^th, 2011 1:00 P.M.       

D．Fri., Dec.3^rd, 2011 8:20 P.M.

2.While your child is skateboarding, you should_____．

A．lead him by the hand all the time． 

B．let him put on open-toed shoes

C．require him to skateboard at night  

D．forbid him to skateboard at night．

3.We know from the text that PIC Guam______．

A．charges children the least money．  

B．offers meals especially to children．

C．only has indoor activities．        

D．gets children alone to go to all the play areas．

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．New York Giants participates in four matches in November, 2011．

B．You can be a volunteer if you suffer diet disorder．

C．Skateboarding without helmet and knee pads is unwise．

D．There are no meals provided in Pacific Islands Club．

 

Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words.

There’s worrying news for any parent who’s struggled with a headstrong young child. Some scientists recently claim that children who have low levels of self-control, which is the earliest demands that society places on children, at the age of three are more likely to have health and money problems and a criminal record by the age of 32, regardless of background and IQ. That is to say, willpower as a child really does influence your chances of a healthy and wealthy adulthood.

They found that children with low self-control were more likely to have health problems in later life including high blood pressure, being overweight, breathing problems and sexually transmitted infections. They were also more addicted to substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, more likely to be single parents, have difficulty managing money and have criminal records.

Researchers from Britain, the US and New Zealand analyzed data from two large studies in which children completed a range of physical tests and interviews to assess genetic and environmental factors that can shape their lives.

The participants’ self-control was assessed by teachers, parents, observers and the children themselves and included things like having low frustration tolerance, lacking persistence in reaching goals, being over-active and acting before thinking.

Researchers then found that when the participants reached their early 30s, this impulsivity and relative inability to think about the long-term gave them more problems with finances, including savings, owning a home and credit card debt.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

 

(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TWELVE WORDS.)

 

1. What are the findings of a recent research according to the passage?

____________________________________________________

2. The phrase “more addicted to” (Line 3, Para. 2) probably means “_____________________”.

3. Besides poor anti-frustration ability, over-activeness and fore-acting, children with low self-control may also suffer __________________________.

4. What may primarily cause the financial problems of the children with low self-control in their later years?

____________________________________________________

 

Foresters are people who work with trees and know a lot about them. Occasionally, foresters have problems, and the foresters in southern Indiana have had many problems.
The foresters were doing an experiment. They wanted to grow walnut (胡桃) trees by planting walnuts in the ground. If they succeeded, the foresters would be able to control the location of the trees. Also, this method would be much cheaper than transplanting or moving nut trees that were grown in plant nurseries (苗圃) . So the foresters planted their walnuts, and that’s when the squirrels (松鼠) started causing trouble. Shortly after the nuts were planted, the squirrels dug them up for tasty snacks (快餐) .
The foresters tried to keep the squirrels away from the walnuts. Mothballs (卫生球) were used as a warning, but they didn’t work. Then, the foresters tried dipping the walnuts in kerosene (煤油) ,  but that didn’t stop the squirrels either. The foresters continue to search for a method that will really work. But until they find one, the squirrels can continue to have their walnut snacks and the foresters will have to transplant trees!
【小题1】Foresters are people who        .

A．look after the forest and work with trees

B．feed squirrels in the forest

C．catch squirrels that steal walnuts

D．transplant trees

【小题2】What were the foresters trying to do with the walnuts?

A．Plant food for squirrels.	B．Control the location of the trees.
C．Move the trees closer to the squirrels.	D．Get squirrels to eat them.

【小题3】The underlined word “transplanting” probably means “       ”.

A．planting

B．moving

C．growing

D．buying

【小题4】What did the squirrels do to the walnuts that were dipped in kerosene?

A．Left them alone.	B．Continued to eat them.
C．Hid them in trees	D．Put them into the earth.

【小题5】According to the story, which of the following is not true?

A．Mothballs didn’t prove to be a good method of stopping the squirrels from eating the walnuts.

B．The squirrels found the walnuts tasty.

C．The squirrels started eating mothballs instead of walnuts.

D．The forester haven’t found a good way to prevent the squirrels from eating the walnuts.

Although many butterflies remain to be decreasing in the long run, last year three quarters of endangered species saw an increase in number, including some rare species.
Experts said the improvement in the butterflies’ fortunes was likely to be the result of effective action on protection, such as leaving open wetland in woods where flowers can grow, and better weather in 2010 after three damaging wet summers.
Dr Tom Brereton said butterflies are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather. Last year saw a warm summer for successful feeding, which helped a number of butterflies in some way.
He even said climate change could be benefiting some butterfly species but many other butterfly species suffer from it. For example, the mountain ringlet suffers as it needs cold climates. And at the same time, the change is too rapid for most to get used to.
In the long run butterfly numbers have continued to drop, with three quarters of the nearly 60 species found in Britain seeing numbers fall in recent decades and nearly half of them seriously threatened.
The Lulworth skipper, one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, had its worst year since 1976, and there are people worrying that changing the environment to benefit other species may be harming this kind of butterfly. Wild flowers have been grown in some places to help other butterflies but the Lulworth skipper needs long grass and wild areas. Meadow browns, the country’s most common species, also had the worst year on record. Some other kinds of butterflies also had a bad year.
However, in the short term many butterflies saw an increase in number in 2010 compared to 2009 levels.
…
【小题1】Which was a reason for the increase in the number of the butterflies last year?

A．The protection of humans.	B．A wet summer.
C．Changes in the butterflies’ habits.	D．The decrease in wetland in woods.

【小题2】We can learn from Dr Tom Brereton’s words that       .

A．the mountain ringlet can quickly adapt to climate change

B．butterflies can help slow down climate change

C．climate change can be both beneficial and harmful to butterflies

D．other kinds of animals also suffer from climate change

【小题3】What is most likely to be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．Why some butterflies decreased in number in 2010.

B．How to protect butterflies in the coming winter.

C．Effects of climate change on butterflies.

D．Examples of butterflies that have increased in number.

【小题4】What is the passage mainly about?

A．Some butterflies in Britain have had a good year.

B．Butterflies in Britain have different habits.

C．Butterflies are well protected in Britain.

D．Butterflies are disappearing from Britain.

The pine tree is a special kind of tree. _______【小题1】_______ This is because many people put pine trees in their homes at Christmas time. They decorate the tree with colored lights, and put Christmas presents under the tree.
Pine trees are different from other trees because most other trees lose their leaves in winter. _____【小题2】_____ So pine trees are also called evergreens.
_____【小题3】_____ They have hard, thin leaves called needles. Pine trees also have pine cones. Pine cones look like hard berries. If you walk in a forest, you will see many pine cones on the ground. ______【小题4】_____ When the seeds fall to the ground, a new tree starts to grow.
______【小题5】_____ The wood is used to make furniture and boats. Many kinds of birds build their nests in pine trees. The seeds of pine trees are food for small animals such as squirrels and mice and for bigger animals such as rabbits and black bears. The needles are good food for large animals such as deer and moose when they cannot find anything to eat in the winter.
If you walk in a forest of pine trees, the air has a wonderful smell. In winter, the white snow on the dark green trees looks very beautiful.

A．Inside the pine cones are seeds

B．Pine trees are valuable for many reasons

C．Pine trees are very beautiful all year round

D．Some people call the pine tree a Charismas tree.

E.Pine trees do not have soft leaves like the maple tree.
F.Pine trees stay green all year long, even in winter.
G.The seeds inside the pine cones are the favorite food for some animals.

阅读下面短文，根据第70至第72小题的具体要求，简要回答问题。（共3个小题，每小题2分，满分6分）

Their round bodies, round flat noses and large ears often remind us of bears every time we see koalas. Probably that’s why these animals are often referred to as koala bears. Koalas are natives of Australia. However, they aren’t found all over the continent. The habitat of koala bears spans (横越) over eastern regions of Australia that include states like Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and also in the state of South Australia.

   Koalas are found where are enough forests of eucalyptus(桉树) trees. The association of koalas and eucalyptus trees is due to the fact that these animals feed on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. But that’s not all. In addition, the trees also serve as the homes of the koalas.

   Koalas grow around 27 to 36 inches tall and weigh 5 to 9 kilograms on average. Male kaolas are larger than the females. Life expectancy can stretch up to 17 years.

   Like many other animals, the habitat of koala bears is fast decreasing due to deforestation and quick urbanization(都市化). However,efforts by some scientists and animal lovers have successfully introduced these creatures back in certain parts of Australia.

Why do Koalas look like bears?      (no more than 12 words)

Where is the main habitat of koala bears in the world?     (no more than 8 words)

How do eucalyptus trees benefit kaola bears?        (no more than 8 words)

Sports Tickets

Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M.	New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles	$20~$850
Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets	$35~$1000
Mon., Nov. 8th, 2011 4:15 P.M.	Sam Diego Chargers vs. New York Giants	$40~$1500
Mon., Nov. 15th, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Jacksonville Kaguars vs. New York Jets	$21~$6100
Mon., Nov. 22nd, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants	$40~$19500
Mon., Nov. 29th, 2011 1:00 P.M.	Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets	$10~$12000
Mon., Dec. 3rd, 2011 8:20 P.M.	New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills	$97~$800

Volunteers Wanted!
We conduct studies to evaluate new medications for sleep disorder．Both healthy adults and patients suffering from insomnia are sought to participate in these studies．
You may be qualified to take part as a healthy adult volunteer if you are aged 18 or over and are willing to have your sleep patterns recorded．Further, if you meet these standards and also suffer from a little sleep disorder you may be able to sign our register of patients．
Warnings:
☆ Always control your child when he is first learning to skateboard．To best assist a beginner, hold one of the child’s hands and guide him along a smooth and level surface．
☆ A safety helmet and elbow, wrist and knee pads must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．
☆ Sneakers must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．Don’t let your child skate in bare feet, sandals or any other open-toed shoes．
☆ Never let your child skateboard in the street．
☆ Never tow skateboarders with a bicycle or a car．
☆ Skateboard only in daylight．
Parents, there is a Tropical Paradise for kids too!
The Pacific Islands Club knows something others don’t．Kids are on holiday and they want to be pampered （纵容）, too．Our kids’ Club of PIC Guam is free of charge and has both indoor and outdoor activities ensuring a really great time to children aged 4 to 12．Open daily from 09: 00 a．m．．Clubmates will accompany children to all of the exciting play areas．They will also love to join the other children for the special meals we have prepared just for them．
【小题1】If you want to watch a play by New York Jets but pay the least money, you should go _____．

A．Mon., Nov.15th, 2011 1:00 P.M.

B．Mon., Nov.1st, 2011 1:00 P.M.

C．Mon., Nov.29th, 2011 1:00 P.M.

D．Fri., Dec.3rd, 2011 8:20 P.M.

【小题2】While your child is skateboarding, you should_____．

A．lead him by the hand all the time．

B．let him put on open-toed shoes

C．require him to skateboard at night

D．forbid him to skateboard at night．

【小题3】We know from the text that PIC Guam______．

A．charges children the least money．

B．offers meals especially to children．

C．only has indoor activities．

D．gets children alone to go to all the play areas．

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．New York Giants participates in four matches in November, 2011．

B．You can be a volunteer if you suffer diet disorder．

C．Skateboarding without helmet and knee pads is unwise．

D．There are no meals provided in Pacific Islands Club．

Their round bodies, round flat noses and large ears often remind us of bears every time we see koalas. Probably that’s why these animals are often referred to as koala bears. Koalas are natives of Australia. However, they aren’t found all over the continent. The habitat of koala bears  is eastern regions of Australia and South Australia.
Koalas are found where there are enough forests of eucalyptus(桉树) trees. The association of koalas and eucalyptus trees is due to the fact that these animals feed on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. But that’s not all. In addition, the trees also serve as the homes of the koalas.
Koalas grow around 27 to 36 inches tall and weigh 5 to 9 kilograms on average. Male kaolas are larger than the females. Life can stretch up to 17 years.
Like many other animals, the habitat of koala bears is fast decreasing due to deforestation and quick urbanization(都市化). However, efforts by some scientists and animal lovers have successfully introduced these creatures back in certain parts of Australia.

1. 1.

   What do Koalas look like ?      (回答词数不超过3个)

2. 2.

   Where is the main habitat of koala bears in the world?     (回答词数不超过8个)

3. 3.

   What do eucalyptus trees provide koalas with ?        (回答词数不超过3个)

Foresters are people who work with trees and know a lot about them. Occasionally, foresters have problems, and the foresters in southern Indiana have had many problems.

The foresters were doing an experiment. They wanted to grow walnut (胡桃) trees by planting walnuts in the ground. If they succeeded, the foresters would be able to control the location of the trees. Also, this method would be much cheaper than transplanting or moving nut trees that were grown in plant nurseries (苗圃) . So the foresters planted their walnuts, and that’s when the squirrels (松鼠) started causing trouble. Shortly after the nuts were planted, the squirrels dug them up for tasty snacks (快餐) .

The foresters tried to keep the squirrels away from the walnuts. Mothballs (卫生球) were used as a warning, but they didn’t work. Then, the foresters tried dipping the walnuts in kerosene (煤油) ,  but that didn’t stop the squirrels either. The foresters continue to search for a method that will really work. But until they find one, the squirrels can continue to have their walnut snacks and the foresters will have to transplant trees!

 

1.Foresters are people who        .

A. look after the forest and work with trees       

B. feed squirrels in the forest

C. catch squirrels that steal walnuts           

D. transplant trees

2.What were the foresters trying to do with the walnuts?

A. Plant food for squirrels.           B. Control the location of the trees.

C. Move the trees closer to the squirrels. D. Get squirrels to eat them.

3.The underlined word “transplanting” probably means “        ”.

A. planting          B. moving       C. growing          D. buying

4.What did the squirrels do to the walnuts that were dipped in kerosene?

A. Left them alone.                  B. Continued to eat them.

C. Hid them in trees                 D. Put them into the earth.

5.According to the story, which of the following is not true?

A. Mothballs didn’t prove to be a good method of stopping the squirrels from eating the walnuts.

B. The squirrels found the walnuts tasty.

C. The squirrels started eating mothballs instead of walnuts.

D. The forester haven’t found a good way to prevent the squirrels from eating the walnuts.

 

Ants have a reputation for strength,organization and teamwork.But researchers have now discovered that a key secret to the success of ants is their ability to identify the importance of age in the work place.
A study of Gentral American leaf-cutter ants has shown that the younger and stronger members are give the toughest job of cutting therough the leaves they harvest.Their sharp youn teeth do this job effectively,but as they get older their teeth become relatively worn and blunt.
But rather than being retired or abandoned by the group,the ageing ants are given a new role more suyted to their physical abilities.They become carriers and teansport the leaves back to the kingdom where they are harvested for food.
The findings by researchers from the University of Oregon and the Oregong State University support previous research showin the survival of a leaf-cutter kingdom depends on the efficiency(效率）of is workers.
“Cuting leaves is hard work,”said Dr.Robert Schofield,who led the research team.“Much of the cutting is done with a V-shaped blade(刀片）between teeth on their jaws.This blade starts out as sharp as the sharpest razor blade that humans have developed.”But over rime the teeth become blunter and the cutting job slows down.The team estimated that,because of this age-related wear,a colony(蚁群)spent twice the energy cutting leaves than it would if all the ants had sharp blades.Its findings support the idea that wear and break can be significant problems for insects as well as largre animals.
Like humans,leaf-cuttre ant recognize that older members of the group can still make a worhwhile contribution to society.“This study shows an advantage of social living that we are familiar with,”said Dr.Schofield.
【小题1】The younger and stronger ants do the toughest job because      .

A．they can teansport the leaves effectively

B．they have a sharp blade to cut leaves

C．other members are busy with other work

D．they can finish the job in a better organized way

【小题2】The undrelined word“blunt”in the second paragraph can be replaced by      .

A．quite loose	B．less sharp
C．quite fragile	D．more dirty

【小题3】What happens to the ants when they become old?

A．They no longer hve work to do.

B．They keep doing the same work.

C．They have to leave and live on themselves.

D．They are given a new worthwhile job.

【小题4】It can be learned from the passage that       .

A．Dr.Schofield is the first to research leaf-cuttre ants

B．older ants are more powerful in carrying leaves

C．large animals can also suffer from some kind of wear

D．leaf-cutter ants are the most lever ants in the world

【小题5】What can be the best title for the passage?

A．The key secret to the success of ants

B．The developed structure of ant colony

C．The most challenging job for leaf-cutter ants

D．No V-shaped blade,no success of ants

Some scientists warn that ice near the Earth’s Poles may indeed be melting. This “polar meltdown” may be the first sign that the Earth is heating up. We could be in very serious trouble if this trend continues. It is estimated that a meltdown of as little as 10 percent of Antarctica’s ice would raise sea levels around the globe by 4 to 9 meters. Floods would cover low-lying regions and turn coastal cities like New York and New Orleans into real life underwater world.

Scientists first predicted in the 1970s that heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere could cause a polar meltdown. Many now believe that human activities are turning up the heat. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, we add carbon dioxide(CO2) gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Cutting down trees also makes CO2 levels raise because trees normally soak up CO2 to make food. Scientists say higher CO2 levels strengthen the “greenhouse effect” and could increase the Earth’s temperature. In fact, CO2 levels have risen by 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Over the past three years, satellite measurements have shown a sea level rise of about a quarter inch worldwide. “If nothing is done to reduce fossil-fuel pollution and global warming, sea levels will rise even more.” says geologist Richard Alley.

But even Alley admits that a polar meltdown would take time. The ice in Antarctica and Arctic locks up nearly nine times the volume of water contained in all the world’s rivers and lakes. These are such big “ice cubes” and it would probably take thousands of years to melt them.

Another scientist Charles Bentley doesn’t think a meltdown will happen at all. “Even if warmer temperatures begin to melt polar-ice,” he says, “the excess moisture would most likely be redeposit as snow.” In other words, the melted ice would evaporate into the atmosphere, refreeze, and fall as rain and snow over the Poles.

What consequence of global warming is mentioned in the passage?

A. More tropical storms.       B. More tropical diseases.

C. Changes in farm productivity.   D. Coastal flooding.

Which of the following statements does the second paragraph support?

A. CO2 in the atmosphere cannot keep the heat from escaping into space.

B. The increase of CO2 gas may warm the planet and help to melt polar ice.

C. Cutting down trees helps to greatly reduce CO2 levels.

D. The end of the short-lived age of fossil fuels is already in sight.

Geologist Richard Alley most likely agrees that _______.

A. the sea-level rise can be prevented by cutting back on energy-consuming activities

B. the recent breaking off of ice blocks from Antarctica is just a natural part of a long-term cycle

C. Antarctica temperatures have significantly changed since the Industrial Revolution

D. the polar meltdown may be an accidental change of climate rather than a sign of global warming

Charles Bentley believes that a polar meltdown will not occur because _______.

A. governments around the world are beginning to reduce CO2 levels in the air

B. a melting of the polar ice cannot be achieved with the present technologies

C. the melted ice in the polar areas would change into snow and rain over the Poles

D. the sun’s heat would have no chance of being absorbed by the polar ice

In which paragraph does the author mention the immense quantities of polar ice?

A. In the second paragraph.   B. In the third paragraph.

C. In the fourth paragraph.    D. In the fifth paragraph.

Fish Ears Tell Fish Tales
　 Fish have ears. Really. They’re quite small and have no opening to the outside world carrying sound through the body. For the past seven years, Simon Thorrold, a university professor, has been examining fish ears, small round ear bones called otoliths (耳石).
　 As fish grow, so do their otoliths. Each day, their otoliths gain a ring of calcium carbonate (碳酸钙). By looking through a microscope and counting these rings, Thorrold can determine the exact age of a young fish. As a fish gets older, its otoliths no longer get daily rings. Instead, they get yearly rings, which can also be counted, giving information about the fish’s age, just like the growth rings of a tree.
　 Ring counting is nothing new to fish scientists. But Thorrold has turned to a new direction. They’re examining the chemical elements (元素) of each otolith ring.
　 The daily ring gives us the time, but chemistry tells us about the environment in which the fish swam on any given day. These elements tell us about the chemistry of the water that the fish was in. It also says something about water temperature, which determines how much of these elements will gather within each otolith ring.
　 Thorrold can tell, for example, if a fish spent time in the open ocean before entering the less salty water of coastal areas. He can basically tell where fish are spending their time at any given stage of history.
　 In the case of the Atlantic croaker, a popular saltwater food fish, Thorrold and his assistant have successfully followed the travelling of young fish from mid-ocean to the coast, a journey of many hundreds of miles.
　 This is important to managers in the fish industry, who know nearly nothing about the whereabouts of the young fish for most food fish in the ocean. Eager to learn about his technology, fish scientists are now lending Thorrold their ears.
【小题1】What can we learn about fish ears from the text?

A．They are small soft rings.

B．They are not seen from the outside.

C．They are openings only on food fish.

D．They are not used to receive sound.

【小题2】Why does the writer compare the fish to trees?

A．Trees gain a growth ring each day.

B．Trees also have otoliths.

C．Their growth rings are very small.

D．They both have growth rings.

【小题3】Why is it important to study the chemistry of otolith rings?

A．The elements of the otoliths can tell the history of the sea.

B．Chemical contents of otoliths can tell how fast fish can swim.

C．We can know more about fish and their living environment.

D．Scientists can know exactly how old a fish is.

【小题4】How would you understand “fish scientists are now lending their ears”?

A．They are very interested in Thorrold’s research findings.

B．They want to know where they can find fish.

C．They lend their fish for chemical studies.

D．They wonder if Thorrold can find growth rings from their ears.

If a diver surfaces too quickly, he may suffer the bends. Nitrogen (氮) dissolved (溶解) in his blood is suddenly liberated by the reduction of pressure. The consequence, if the bubbles (气泡) accumulate in a joint, is sharp pain and a bent body—thus the name. If the bubbles form in his lungs or his brain, the consequence can be death.
Other air-breathing animals also suffer this decompression (减压) sickness if they surface too fast: whales, for example. And so, long ago, did ichthyosaurs. That these ancient sea animals got the bends can be seen from their bones. If bubbles of nitrogen form inside the bone they can cut off its blood supply. This kills the cells in the bone, and consequently weakens it, sometimes to the point of collapse. Fossil (化石) bones that have caved in on themselves are thus a sign that the animal once had the bends.
Bruce Rothschild of the University of Kansas knew all this when he began a study of ichthyosaur bones to find out how widespread the problem was in the past. What he particularly wanted to investigate was how ichthyosaurs adapted to the problem of decompression over the 150 million years. To this end, he and his colleagues traveled the world’s natural-history museums, looking at hundreds of ichthyosaurs from the Triassic period and from the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
When he started, he assumed that signs of the bends would be rarer in younger fossils, reflecting their gradual evolution of measures to deal with decompression. Instead, he was astonished to discover the opposite. More than 15% of Jurassic and Cretaceous ichthyosaurs had suffered the bends before they died, but not a single Triassic specimen (标本) showed evidence of that sort of injury.
If ichthyosaurs did evolve an anti-decompression means, they clearly did so quickly—and, most strangely, they lost it afterwards. But that is not what Dr Rothschild thinks happened. He suspects it was evolution in other animals that caused the change.
Whales that suffer the bends often do so because they have surfaced to escape a predator (捕食动物) such as a large shark. One of the features of Jurassic oceans was an abundance of large sharks and crocodiles, both of which were fond of ichthyosaur lunches. Triassic oceans, by contrast, were mercifully shark- and crocodile-free. In the Triassic, then, ichthyosaurs were top of the food chain. In the Jurassic and Cretaceous, they were prey (猎物) as well as predator—and often had to make a speedy exit as a result.
【小题1】Which of the following is a typical symptom of the bends?

A．A twisted body.

B．A gradual decrease in blood supply.

C．A sudden release of nitrogen in blood.

D．A drop in blood pressure.

【小题2】The purpose of Rothschild’s study is to see ______.

A．how often ichthyosaurs caught the bends

B．how ichthyosaurs adapted to decompression

C．why ichthyosaurs bent their bodies

D．when ichthyosaurs broke their bones

【小题3】Rothschild’s finding stated in Paragraph 4 ______.

A．confirmed his assumption	B．speeded up his research process
C．disagreed with his assumption	D．changed his research objectives

【小题4】Rothschild might have concluded that ichthyosaurs ______.

A．failed to evolve an anti-decompression means

B．gradually developed measures against the bends

C．died out because of large sharks and crocodiles

D．evolved an anti-decompression means but soon lost it

Although many butterflies remain to be decreasing in the long run, last year three quarters of endangered species saw an increase in number, including some rare species.

Experts said the improvement in the butterflies’ fortunes was likely to be the result of effective action on protection, such as leaving open wetland in woods where flowers can grow, and better weather in 2010 after three damaging wet summers.

Dr Tom Brereton said butterflies are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather. Last year saw a warm summer for successful feeding, which helped a number of butterflies in some way.

He even said climate change could be benefiting some butterfly species but many other butterfly species suffer from it. For example, the mountain ringlet suffers as it needs cold climates. And at the same time, the change is too rapid for most to get used to.

In the long run butterfly numbers have continued to drop, with three quarters of the nearly 60 species found in Britain seeing numbers fall in recent decades and nearly half of them seriously threatened.

The Lulworth skipper, one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, had its worst year since 1976, and there are people worrying that changing the environment to benefit other species may be harming this kind of butterfly. Wild flowers have been grown in some places to help other butterflies but the Lulworth skipper needs long grass and wild areas. Meadow browns, the country’s most common species, also had the worst year on record. Some other kinds of butterflies also had a bad year.

However, in the short term many butterflies saw an increase in number in 2010 compared to 2009 levels.

  …

1.Which was a reason for the increase in the number of the butterflies last year?

A.The protection of humans.             B. A wet summer.

C.Changes in the butterflies’ habits.     D. The decrease in wetland in woods.

2.We can learn from Dr Tom Brereton’s words that       .

A.the mountain ringlet can quickly adapt to climate change

B.butterflies can help slow down climate change

C.climate change can be both beneficial and harmful to butterflies

D.other kinds of animals also suffer from climate change

3.What is most likely to be discussed in the following paragraph?

A.Why some butterflies decreased in number in 2010.

B.How to protect butterflies in the coming winter.

C.Effects of climate change on butterflies.

D.Examples of butterflies that have increased in number.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Some butterflies in Britain have had a good year.

B.Butterflies in Britain have different habits.

C.Butterflies are well protected in Britain.

D.Butterflies are disappearing from Britain.

 

If a diver surfaces too quickly, he may suffer the bends. Nitrogen (氮) dissolved (溶解) in his blood is suddenly liberated by the reduction of pressure. The consequence, if the bubbles (气泡) accumulate in a joint, is sharp pain and a bent body — thus the name. If the bubbles form in his lungs or brain, the consequence can be death.

Other air-breathing animals also suffer this decompression (减压) sickness if they surface too fast: whales, for example. And so, long ago, did ichthyosaurs (鱼龙). That these ancient sea-animals got the bends can be seen from their bones. If bubbles of nitrogen form inside the bone they can cut off its blood supply. This kills the cells in the bone, and consequently weakens it, sometimes to the point of collapse. Fossil(化石)bones that have caved in on themselves are thus a sign that the animal once had the bends. 

Bruce Rothschild of the University of Kansas knew all this when he began a suty of ichthyosaurs bones to find out how widespread the problem was in the past. What he particularly wanted to investigate was how ichthyosaurs adapted to the problem of decompession over the 150 milllion years. To this end, he and his colleagues traveled the world’s natural-history museums, looking at hundreds of ichthyosaurs from the Trassic period and from the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

When he started, he assumed that signs of the bends would be rarer in younger fossils, reflecting their gradual evolution of measures to deal with decompression. Instead, he was astonished to discover the opposite. More than 15% of Jurassic and Cretaceous ichthyosaurs had suffered the bends before the died, but not a single Trassic specimen showed evidence of that sort of injury.

If ichthyosaurs did evolve an anti-decompression means, they clearly did so quickly — and, most strangly, they lost it afterwards. But that is not what Dr Rothchild thinks happened. He suspects it was evolution in other animals that caused the change.

Whales that suffer the bends often do so because they have sufaced to escape a predator (捕食动物) such as a large shark. One of the features of the Jurassia oceans was an abundance of large sharks and crocodiles, both of which were fond of ichthyosaurs lunches. Trassic oceans, by contrast, were mercifully shark-and crocodile-free. In the Trassic, then, ichthyosaurs were top of the food chain. In the Jurrasic and Cretaceous, they were prey (猎物) as well as predator —and often had to make a speedy exit as a result.

1.Which of the following is a typical symptom of the bends?

A. A twisted body.

B. A gradual decrease in blood supply.

C. A sudden release of nitrogen in blood.

D. A drop in blood presure.

2.The purpose of Rothchild’s study is to see              .

A. how often ichthyosaurs caught the bends

B. how ichthyosaurs adapted to decompression

C. why ichthyosaurs bent their bodies

D. when ichthyosaurs broke their bones

3.Rothchild’s finding stated in Paragrapg 4            .

A. confirmed his assumption          B. speeded up his research process

C. disagreed with his assumption      D. changed his research objectives

4.Rothchild might have concluded that ichthyosaurs          .

A. failed to evole an anti-decompression means

B. grdually developed measures against the bends

C. died out because of large sharks and crocodiles

D. evoled an anti-decompression means but soon lost it

 

阅读下面短文，根据小题的具体要求，简要回答问题。
Their round bodies, round flat noses and large ears often remind us of bears every time we see koalas. Probably that’s why these animals are often referred to as koala bears. Koalas are natives of Australia. However, they aren’t found all over the continent. The habitat of koala bears  is eastern regions of Australia and South Australia.
Koalas are found where there are enough forests of eucalyptus(桉树) trees. The association of koalas and eucalyptus trees is due to the fact that these animals feed on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. But that’s not all. In addition, the trees also serve as the homes of the koalas.
Koalas grow around 27 to 36 inches tall and weigh 5 to 9 kilograms on average. Male kaolas are larger than the females. Life can stretch up to 17 years.
Like many other animals, the habitat of koala bears is fast decreasing due to deforestation and quick urbanization(都市化). However, efforts by some scientists and animal lovers have successfully introduced these creatures back in certain parts of Australia.
【小题1】What do Koalas look like ?      (回答词数不超过3个)
【小题2】Where is the main habitat of koala bears in the world?     (回答词数不超过8个)
【小题3】What do eucalyptus trees provide koalas with ?        (回答词数不超过3个)

下面文章中有5处需要添加小标题。请从以下选项（A、B、C、D、E和F）中选出符合各段意思的小标题。选项中有一项是多余选项。

A. Kripke’s Research Tool

B. Dangers of Habitual Shortages of Sleep

C. Classification of Sleep Problems

D. A Way of Overcoming Insomnia

E. Sleep Problems of Long and Short Sleepers

F. Oversleeping — Too Much of a Good Thing

1. ______

Although the dangers of too little sleep are widely known, new research suggests that people who sleep too much may also suffer the consequences.

2. ______

Investigators at the University of California in San Diego found that people who clock up 9 or 10 hours each weeknight appear to have more trouble falling and staying asleep, as well as a number of other sleep problems, than people who sleep 8 hours a night. People who slept only 7 hours each night also said they had more trouble falling asleep and feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep than 8-hour sleepers.

3. ______

Previous studies have shown the potential dangers of chronic(慢性的) shortages of sleep — for instance, one report demonstrated that people who habitually sleep less than 7 hours each night have a higher risk of dying within a fixed period than people who sleep more.

4. ______

For the current report, Kripke reviewed the responses of 1,004 adults to sleep questionnaires, in which participants indicated how mush they slept during the week and whether they experienced any sleep problems. Sleep problems included waking in the middle of the night, arising early in the morning and being unable to fall back to sleep, and having tiredness interfere with day-to-day functioning.

5. ______

Kripke found that people who slept between 9 and 10 hours each night were more likely to report experiencing each sleep problem than people who slept 8 hours. In an interview, Kripke noted that long sleepers may struggle to get rest at night simply because they spend too much time in bed. As evidence, he added that one way to help insomnia is to spend less time in bed. “It stands to reason that if a person spends too long a time in bed, then they’ll spend a higher percentage of time awake,” he said.