If two scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are correct, people will still be driving gasoline-powered cars 50 years from now, giving out heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — and yet that carbon dioxide will not contribute to global warming.

In a proposal by two scientists, vehicle emissions (排放) would no longer contribute to global warming. The scientists, F. Jeffrey Martin and William L. Kubic Jr., are proposing a concept, which they have named Green Freedom, for removing carbon dioxide from the air and turning it back into gasoline.

The idea is simple. Air would be blown over a liquid solution (溶液) of potassium carbonate, which would absorb the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be put to chemical reactions that would turn it into fuel: gasoline or jet fuel.

This process could change carbon dioxide from an unwanted, climate-changing pollutant into a vast resource for renewable fuels. The cycle — equal amounts of carbon dioxide produced and removed — would mean that cars, trucks and airplanes using the synthetic (合成的) fuels would no longer be contributing to global warming.

Although they have not yet built a synthetic fuel factory, or even a small model, the scientists say it is all based on existing technology. “Everything in the concept has been built, is operating or has a close cousin that is operating,” Dr. Martin said.

The Los Alamos proposal does not go against any laws of physics, and other scientists who have independently suggested similar ideas. Dr. Martin said he and Dr. Kubic had worked out their concept in more detail than previous proposals.

There is, however, a major fact that explains why no one has built a carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline factory: it requires a great deal of energy.

According to their analysis, their concept, which would cost about $5 billion to build, could produce gasoline at an operating cost of $1.40 a gallon and would turn economically practical when the price at the pump hits $4.60 a gallon.

Other scientists said the Los Alamos proposal perhaps looked promising but could not evaluate it fully because the details had not been published.

“It’s definitely worth pursuing,” said Martin I. Hoffert, a professor of physics at New York University. “It’s not that new an idea. It has a couple of pieces to it that are interesting.”

67. What is the idea of the project being discussed in the article?

A. Recycling the carbon dioxide from cars back into gasoline.

B. Create a new gasoline that gives off very little carbon dioxide.

C. Using a special liquid solution to absorb carbon dioxide from cars.

D. Build synthetic fuel factories to remove carbon dioxide from the air.

68. What’s the name given to the new concept?

A. Synthetic Fuel.                                 B. Green Freedom.    

C. Renewable Fuel.                                D. Carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline Factory.

69. Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits of this new concept as suggested in the article?

A. Reduction of global warming.            B. Cheaper gasoline for cars.

C. Longer life of cars.                     C. Less pollution of the atmosphere.

70. What’s the biggest problem in realizing the concept according to the report?

A. Shortage of starting funds.         B. Immature technology involved.

C. All previous similar attempts have failed.

D. The use of too much energy in running the fuel factory.

Standardized exam in American public education are being reformed. Over the next four years, hundreds of university professors and testing experts will work together to design new assessment system.
The new tests will be computer-based and will measure higher-order skills ignored by the multiple-choice exams used in all states，including students’ ability to read complex texts, synthesize(合成)information and do research projects．
Because the new tests will be computerized and will be administered several times throughout the school year, they can provide faster feedback(反馈)to teachers．If these plans work out, It’ll turn the current testing system upside down．
One group，led by Florida，will be made up of 25 states and the District of Columbia．The group was awarded $170 million．The other group, whose membership over-laps the first，has31 states and is led by Washington．The group was given $160 million．Twelve of the 44 states are
participating in both groups but are expected eventually to choose one set of tests．
The two groups are supposed to work in a friendly competition，though their plans are very similar．Both groups will produce tests that rely heavily on technology and both groups’ tests will include so-called performance-based tasks，designed to mirror complex，real-world situations．
In performance-based tasks，students are given a problem－they could be told, for example, to suppose they are a mayor who needs to reduce a city’s pollution—and must write about how they would solve the problem．
The new tests could be useful to teachers by giving them information on what their students are learning, but it might also require some mid-course adjustments.
Over the past decade, the federal No Child Left Behind law has emphasized helping low-achieving students improve their basic reading and math by encouraging states to produce tests that measure relatively low-1evel skills. Although the Bush-era law is still on the books, two
years of Obama administration policy have been leading schools in new directions．   
【小题1】. . What is the main idea of this passage?

Standardized exam in American public education are being reformed. Over the next four years, hundreds of university professors and testing experts will work together to design new assessment system.

The new tests will be computer-based and will measure higher-order skills ignored by the multiple-choice exams used in all states，including students’ ability to read complex texts, synthesize(合成)information and do research projects．

    Because the new tests will be computerized and will be administered several times throughout the school year, they can provide faster feedback(反馈)to teachers．If these plans work out, It’ll turn the current testing system upside down．

    One group，led by Florida，will be made up of 25 states and the District of Columbia．The group was awarded $170 million．The other group, whose membership over-laps the first，has31 states and is led by Washington．The group was given $160 million．Twelve of the 44 states are

participating in both groups but are expected eventually to choose one set of tests．

   The two groups are supposed to work in a friendly competition，though their plans are very similar．Both groups will produce tests that rely heavily on technology and both groups’ tests will include so-called performance-based tasks，designed to mirror complex，real-world situations．

   In performance-based tasks，students are given a problem－they could be told, for example, to suppose they are a mayor who needs to reduce a city’s pollution—and must write about how they would solve the problem．

   The new tests could be useful to teachers by giving them information on what their students are learning, but it might also require some mid-course adjustments.

   Over the past decade, the federal No Child Left Behind law has emphasized helping low-achieving students improve their basic reading and math by encouraging states to produce tests that measure relatively low-1evel skills. Although the Bush-era law is still on the books, two

years of Obama administration policy have been leading schools in new directions．   

1..  . What is the main idea of this passage?

   A. Obama’s education policy takes the lead.

   B. A computer-based testing system is adopted. 

C. American education system has been changed.

   D. Experts are reinventing the student testing system.

2..   Why are multiple-choice exams to be given up?

   A. Because they are not computer-based.

   B. Because they can’t test students’ higher-order skills.

   C. Because they can’t provide proper feedback for teachers.

   D. Because they can’t test students’ general reading ability.

3..   The underlined part in Para. 4 probably means________.

   A. the two groups have some shared members

   B. the other group is more demanding than the first

   C. the groups have different tasks of their own

   D. the other group does better than the first group in the task

4..   According to the passage, performance-based tasks may refer to tasks that______.

   A. are related to real-world problems

   B. have to be performed in an imaginary world

   C. teach us theories through complex problems

   D. can only be completed by relying heavily on technology

5..  . From the last paragraph, we can infer that_________.

   A. the No child Left Behind policy is not helpful

   B. the Obama administration’s policy is highly praised

   C. the two policies both emphasize math and reading abilities

   D. the two policies both emphasize the development of practical skills

Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, or chemical fertilizers and that they were processed without food additives. Livestock are raised without the routine use of antibiotics（抗生素）or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified. They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable materials when possible.

Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food.

They mostly had to buy directly from growers: “Know your farmer, know your food” was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted ( 组成)“organic” were developed through first-hand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Historically, organic farms were relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets.

However, since the early 1990s organic food has had growth rates of around 20% a year. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1 - 2% of food sales worldwide. Currently organic food production is legally regulated. Many countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.

Several studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus（共同看法）is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:

● Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides (合成农药) into the environment — some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local wildlife.

● Organic farms are better than conventional farms at keeping diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.        

● Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.

Another report published in March 2008 by The Organic Center claims that organic food is on average 25% more nutritious than conventional food.     

However, many critics believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems. And organic products cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods in supermarkets are 65% more expensive.

1. Early consumers knew what food was “organic” by _______.

A. firsthand experience                                                  B. the “certified organic” label tag

C. its packaging                                                                         D. examining its organic certification

2. We can infer that _______.

A. in America, organic food can only be bought in small stores or farmers’ markets

B. organic food is also available in large supermarkets at present

C. organic food is produced by large-scale farms

D. organic food is often beautifully packaged

3. According to the passage, organic food is considered as _______.     

A. junk food                     B. delicious snacks                     C. green food         D. conventional food

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. The benefits of organic food.                                            B. The cost of organic food.

C. The disadvantages of organic food.                           D. Organic food and conventional food.

5. Which of the following statements does NOT support the view that organic farming is more environment-friendly?

A. Organic food is generally thought to be more nutritious.

B. Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.

C. Organic farms are better than conventional farms at maintaining varieties of plants, insects and animals.

D. Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment.

Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, or chemical fertilizers and that they were processed without food additives. Livestock are raised without the routine use of antibiotics（抗生素）or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified. They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable materials when possible.
Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food.
They mostly had to buy directly from growers: “Know your farmer, know your food” was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted ( 组成)“organic” were developed through first-hand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Historically, organic farms were relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets.
However, since the early 1990s organic food has had growth rates of around 20% a year. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1 - 2% of food sales worldwide. Currently organic food production is legally regulated. Many countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.
Several studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus（共同看法）is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:
● Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides (合成农药) into the environment — some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local wildlife.
● Organic farms are better than conventional farms at keeping diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.        
● Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.
Another report published in March 2008 by The Organic Center claims that organic food is on average 25% more nutritious than conventional food.     
However, many critics believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems. And organic products cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods in supermarkets are 65% more expensive.
1. Early consumers knew what food was “organic” by _______.
A. firsthand experience                                     B. the “certified organic” label tag
C. its packaging                                                      D. examining its organic certification
2. We can infer that _______.
A. in America, organic food can only be bought in small stores or farmers’ markets
B. organic food is also available in large supermarkets at present
C. organic food is produced by large-scale farms
D. organic food is often beautifully packaged
3. According to the passage, organic food is considered as _______.     
A. junk food              B. delicious snacks               C. green food      D. conventional food
4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. The benefits of organic food.                               B. The cost of organic food.
C. The disadvantages of organic food.                   D. Organic food and conventional food.
5. Which of the following statements does NOT support the view that organic farming is more environment-friendly?
A. Organic food is generally thought to be more nutritious.
B. Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.
C. Organic farms are better than conventional farms at maintaining varieties of plants, insects and animals.
D. Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment.