完形填空 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41—55各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Never Save Something Beautiful for That Special Day

　　Years ago I was talking with a classmate in Sydney. At the time his wife had just passed away not too long ago. He told me while going through her things, he found a silk scarf _1  in a designer store when they had traveled to New York City. The scarf was beautiful, with elegant _2 , and a high price tag still hanging. His wife begrudged wearing it; she was _3  it for a special day.

　　He _4  at that moment; I didn't say anything either. After a long pause he said: “Never save something beautiful for that special day. Each _5  day is a special day.”

　　Whenever I _6  what he had said, I would put down the things I was doing to grab a novel, turn on the music and lie down on the couch to _7  some time for myself. I would appreciate the glorious scenery of the Tanshui River through a French window, _8  the dust gathered on the glass. I would take my wife out to _9 , not thinking what to do with the meal already cooked. Life should be the experience we truly cherish, not days we just have to endure.

　　One time I shared the above conversation with a lady. When I saw her again, she told me that she no longer _10  the beautiful china in a cabinet. She had thought to save them for a special day, only to discover that it never _11  came. “Future”, “someday” are not contained in her _12  any more. If there are things that are pleasant or make her complacent, she wants to hear or see them now.

　　We often hope to gather with old friends, but always say, “let's find a(n) _13 .” We often want to hug our grown children, but always wait for the appropriate moment. We often want to write to our spouses to express our strong affection or to show our deep admiration, but always tell ourselves that there is no need to _14 . In fact, each morning when we open our eyes, we should tell ourselves that this is a special day. Each day, each minute is so incredibly _15 .

Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

Big climate changes in the last million years might have come from something very small: dust from outer space.

   Earth changes between ice ages and warm periods in a(n) ____ that includes several cycles, including a ___ one that lasts 100,000 years. Scientists ____suggested this cycle might be due to changes in the inflow of cosmic(宇宙) dust.

   The idea is that Earth ___above and below the imaginary plane that runs through the sun and Jupiter(木星), completing a cycle every 100,000 years. So maybe it encounters ___varying amounts of dust during each cycle that produce the climate trend.

   Now there is some ____, from ancient cosmic dust recovered in ocean-floor drilling near the Azores islands west of Portugal. The large quantity of the dust rises and falls with a wonderful 100,000 year cycle during the period analyzed, 253,000 years to 458,000 years ago. Periods of more dust are related to____ climates.

   But that is a long way from showing that the dust ____ climate. Some scientists argue that it is not clear how cosmic dust would make the climate warmer while dust from volcanoes is known to make it cooler. They say the cosmic dust is so thin that it is hard to see how it could have any climate____.

   Nevertheless, the new study shows scientists have to take the cosmic dust idea seriously.

四.阅读理解（30分）
A
United Nations Climate Change Conference
The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark on Dec.7th with some 15,000 delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is called the last best chance for an agreement to combat(与……战斗) global warming.
Their aim is to find common ground, including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion and transfer of new more eco-friendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible, especially for the less developed and poorer nations.  It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for the future.
Most scientists believe the warming trend is mainly caused by human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels(矿物燃料) and the cutting down of forests. Skeptics(怀疑论者) say global warming is part of a natural cycle of climate change.
In Copenhagen, experts and officials alike are putting the emphasis on what people and governments can do to cut the emission of greenhouse gases.
Scientists say a 25 to 40 percent cut in carbon-dioxide emissions is needed to control global warming. The European Union, China, and India have already pledged(保证) reductions. The United States is waiting for Congressional(国会的) approval for a proposal put forward by the Obama administration.
Barack Obama, President of the United States said, “Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change..”
Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of South Africa said, “Worldwide, we have the chance to start turning the tide of climate change, but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair, binding(有约束力的) and sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen.”
56. From the first paragraph we can infer that___________.
people think that this conference is of no use
this conference is the last one to be held about the climate change
before this conference some countries fight against each other.
people expect a final agreement will be achieved
57. Which is NOT included in the aim of this conference?
A. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases.
B. To develop the agriculture and industry of the developed countries.
C. To cooperate with each other for the future.
D. To transfer new more eco-friendly technology.
58. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The United States refuses to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
B. The European Union is waiting for a proposal put forward by Obama.
C. China and India have already agreed to cut carbon-dioxide emissions.
D. South Africa doesn’t think much of this conference.
59. What is Obama’s attitude according to his words?
A. Doubtful.                          B. Positive.     C. Negative.                    D. Regretful.
60. _________is the reason of global warming according to the skeptics.
A. Human activity                  B. Fossil fuels  
C. The cutting down of trees           D. Natural climate change

 Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

Big climate changes in the last million years might have come from something very small: dust from outer space.

   Earth changes between ice ages and warm periods in a(n) __1.__ that includes several cycles, including a __2._ one that lasts 100,000 years. Scientists __3.__suggested this cycle might be due to changes in the inflow of cosmic(????) dust.

   The idea is that Earth _4.__above and below the imaginary plane that runs through the sun and Jupiter(???), completing a cycle every 100,000 years. So maybe it encounters __5._varying amounts of dust during each cycle that produce the climate trend.

   Now there is some __6.__, from ancient cosmic dust recovered in ocean-floor drilling near the Azores islands west of Portugal. The large quantity of the dust rises and falls with a wonderful 100,000 year cycle during the period analyzed, 253,000 years to 458,000 years ago. Periods of more dust are related to__7.__ climates.

   But that is a long way from showing that the dust __8.__ climate. Some scientists argue that it is not clear how cosmic dust would make the climate warmer while dust from volcanoes is known to make it cooler. They say the cosmic dust is so thin that it is hard to see how it could have any climate__9.__.

   Nevertheless, the new study shows scientists have to take the cosmic dust idea seriously.

四.阅读理解（30分）

A

United Nations Climate Change Conference

The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark on Dec.7th with some 15,000 delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is called the last best chance for an agreement to combat(与……战斗) global warming.

Their aim is to find common ground, including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion and transfer of new more eco-friendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible, especially for the less developed and poorer nations.  It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for the future.

Most scientists believe the warming trend is mainly caused by human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels(矿物燃料) and the cutting down of forests. Skeptics(怀疑论者) say global warming is part of a natural cycle of climate change.

In Copenhagen, experts and officials alike are putting the emphasis on what people and governments can do to cut the emission of greenhouse gases.

Scientists say a 25 to 40 percent cut in carbon-dioxide emissions is needed to control global warming. The European Union, China, and India have already pledged(保证) reductions. The United States is waiting for Congressional(国会的) approval for a proposal put forward by the Obama administration.

Barack Obama, President of the United States said, “Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change..”

Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of South Africa said, “Worldwide, we have the chance to start turning the tide of climate change, but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair, binding(有约束力的) and sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen.”

56. From the first paragraph we can infer that___________.

people think that this conference is of no use

this conference is the last one to be held about the climate change

before this conference some countries fight against each other.

people expect a final agreement will be achieved

57. Which is NOT included in the aim of this conference?

A. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases.

B. To develop the agriculture and industry of the developed countries.

C. To cooperate with each other for the future.

D. To transfer new more eco-friendly technology.

58. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The United States refuses to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

B. The European Union is waiting for a proposal put forward by Obama.

C. China and India have already agreed to cut carbon-dioxide emissions.

D. South Africa doesn’t think much of this conference.

59. What is Obama’s attitude according to his words?

A. Doubtful.                          B. Positive.     C. Negative.                    D. Regretful.

60. _________is the reason of global warming according to the skeptics.

A. Human activity                  B. Fossil fuels  

C. The cutting down of trees           D. Natural climate change