A

　　Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson？Perhaps yes.Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.

　　The gene comes in two versions，one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans.The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans，researchers

　　at

　　the

　　Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

　　Scientists have changed the color of a dark-striped zebrafish (斑馬魚) to gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish.As with humans，the skin color of zebrafish is determined by pigment cells，which contain melanin (黑色素)．The number，size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.

　　It appears that，like the golden zebrafish，light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (變異) in the gene for melanin production.This results in less pigmented skin.

　　However，Keith Cheng，leader of the research team，points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

　　Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun，which can cause skin cancer.

　　But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes，they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D．So the related gene changes，according to Cheng.

　　Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans，so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color，said Cheng.

　　The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer.It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

　　5．Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to________.

　　A．find the genes that are different from humans’

　　B．prove the skin color of zebrafish is determined by the pigment gene

　　C．find out the reason why Africans’ skin color is dark

　　D．find out the ways to change people’s skin color

　　6．The passage mainly tells us that________.

　　A．scientists have found out the gene that determines people’s skin color

　　B．the new discovery could lead to research into ways to change skin color safely

　　C．pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin color as he liked

　　D．people cannot change their skin color without any pain

　　7．The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that________.

　　A．they are born light-skinned people

　　B．light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production

　　C．they have fewer activities outside

　　D．they pay much attention to protecting their skin

　　8．The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is________.

　　A．neutral

　　B．negative

　　C．indifferent

　　D．positiveB

　　Frank Smithson woke up and leaned over to turn off the alarm clock. "Oh no!" he thought to himself."Another day at that office; a boss who shouts at me all the time." As Frank went downstairs his eyes fell on a large brown envelope by the door. He was overjoyed when he opened it and read the letter inside."Bigwoods Football Polls (足球賭博公司)would like to congratulate you. You have won half a million pounds."

　　Farnk suddenly came to life. The cigarette (香煙) fell from his lips as he let out a shout that could be heard halfway down the street.

　　At l1:30 Frank arrived at work."Please explain why you're so late," his boss said. "Go and jump in the lake," replied Frank. "I've just come into a little money so this is goodbye. Find yourself someone else to shout at."

　　That evening Frank was smoking a very expensive Havana cigar (雪茄) when a knock was heard on the door. He rushed to the door. Outside were two men,nearly dressed in grey suit."Mr Smithson," one of them said, "We're from Bigwoods Pools. I'm afraid there's been a terrible mistake?

　　1. What do we know about Frank?______.

　　A.He was a lazy man.

　　B.He was a lucky person

　　C.We didn't make a lot of money

　　D.He didn't get on well with his boss.

　　2. When he heard the knock at the door, Frank probably thought______.

　　A.someone had come to make an apology.

　　B.someone had come to give him the money.

　　C.his friends had come to ask about the football pools.

　　D.his friends had come to congratulate him on his luck.

　　3. On hearing "... there's been a terrible mistake..." Frank was most likely to be______.

　　A.disappointed

　　B.worried

　　C.nervous

　　D.curious

　　C

　　Dear Michelle,

　　Why can't my daughter manage her life better? She is 17 and an honor student, but she seems to be wasting her life away with a boyfriend who is holding her back.

　　He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well.

　　His goal is to get her to agree to go to the college of his choice, not her choice, and because his grades are lower, his choice will be limited.

　　I feel like I want to rescue her, but she pushes me away and shuts me out. She has only brought us pride and joy; and now this! Help!

　　A worried mother

　　Dear Mother of a 17-year-old Girl,

　　Hmmmmm. What's the matter with kids today? Remember that song from "Bye Bye Birdie"?

　　Well if you do not, let me fill you in about teenagers and their life-management skills. Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be.

　　Life experience creates both the conditions and the skills for management, and if management went before experience, there would be little of it.

　　Your daughter is an honor student for good reasons. She is smart, studies with intelligence and you have given her good values.

　　When the time comes for her to apply for college, and she visits the ones that are specifically designed for students at the top of their grade, she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence.

　　It is rare for an honor student to change the path of their academic career for puppy love. That being said, there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all.

　　Perhaps she is choosing to worry you, her parents, for unconscious reasons. Being such a good girl and being a steady source of joy might have become a bit too much for her.

　　Let your daughter have her own private moment of 11th grade rebellion. She deserves a break from perfection.

　　Michelle

　　26. From the mother's letter we can learn that her daughter

　　.

　　A. is being fooled by the boy

　　B. has fallen behind in her studies

　　C. doesn't talk much with her mother

　　D. has chosen which college to attend

　　27. According to Michelle, 17-year-old teenagers

　　.

　　A. are too young to manage their life

　　B. are old enough to live their own life

　　C. should have management before experience

　　D. have reached the age of an adult

　　28. The underlined word "puppy-love" refer to

　　.

　　A. false love

　　B. foolish love

　　C. pure love

　　D. adolescent love

　　29. Michelle seems to believe that the daughter will finally

　　.

　　A. come up with the right decision

　　B. follow her boyfriend's advice

　　C. worry her parents for unconscious reasons

　　D. influence her boyfriend's behavior

　　30. The best title for the passage would be

　　.

　　A. College of kids' own choice

　　B. How can I help my girl?

　　C. How to manage teenagers' life?

　　D. A 17-year-old girl and her mother

　　D

　　Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has a good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.

　　One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, “Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It’s the least I could do. Please, I insist.” Jimmy agreed.

　　Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applicants waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, “Do you really need to be interviewed?” Jimmy’s heart sank. “With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?” he thought to himself.

　　Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy’s surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.

　　“Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you’d be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!” Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job.

　　56. Why did Jimmy apply for a new job? A. He was out of work

　　B. He was bored with his job C. He wanted a higher position

　　D. He hoped to find a better boss

　　57. What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview? A. A friend’s car had a flat tyre

　　B. a wild man was pushing a car C. a terrible accident happened

　　D. an old man’s car broke down

　　58. Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride? A. He was also to be interviewed

　　B. He needed a traveling companion C. He always helped people in need

　　D. He was thankful to Jimmy

　　59. How did Jimmy feel on hearing the interviewer’s question? A. He was sorry for the other applicants B. There was no hope for him to get the job C. He regretted helping the old man D. The interviewer was very rude

　　60. What can we learn from Jimmy’s experience？ A. Where there is a will, there’s a way B. A friend in need is a friend indeed C. Good is rewarded with good. D. Two heads are better than one

　　A

　　語篇解讀：　這是一篇科普文。科學家們找到了決定人類膚色的基因。

　　5．解析：　細節理解題。依據文章第三段可知，科學家把一種色素基因植入斑馬魚的幼魚體內，將其變成了金色，從而證明了和人類一樣，斑馬魚的膚色也是由色素細胞決定的，由此可知B項正確。

　　答案：　B

　　6．解析：　主旨大意題。文章講述了科學家通過研究斑馬魚發現了決定人類膚色的基因。首段中的“Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.”即研究的結果，也是文章敘述的中心。

　　答案：　A

　　7．解析：　細節理解題。依據文章第四段可知，像金斑馬魚一樣，歐洲人的產生黑色素的基因產生了突變，使得黑色素減少，才使他們膚色變淺了。由此可知B項正確。

　　答案：　B

　　8．解析：　推理判斷題。依據文章最后一段的首句可知，這一發現有助于攻克皮膚癌等難題，由此可知作者對這個發現持肯定的態度。

　　答案：　D

　　2.【分析】這是一道推理題。讀完文章我們可以推測Frank當時的心情很好，所以當他聽到敲門聲之后，作者用“rushed”一詞，生動形象地刻畫了Frank當時的心態。所以B為該題的最佳答案；此題通過率為41％。

　　3.【分析】這也是一道推理題。正當Frank在為自己突然的“發跡”而感到得意之時，足球賭博公司的人員告訴這是一個誤會。他們搞錯了，當時Frank的心情可想而知。A為此題的正確答案。此題通過率為42％。

　　C

　　【文章大意】本文敘述了兩封信第一份信是一位母親認為17歲的女兒不聽自己的建議，會聽她男朋友的話，選擇一個不理想的大學而求助于編輯。第二封信是編輯就此事給出的建議，認為她的女兒是一個優秀生，會做出正確的決定的。

　　26【答案】C

　　【 解析】推理判斷題。根據He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well可知女兒的男朋友消耗了她醒著的每一分鐘，用花言巧語哄騙她的女兒，因此可推斷這位母親和她的女兒之間的談話不多。故選C。

　　27【答案】A

　　【 解析】推理判斷題。根據Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be.可知Michelle認為17歲的青少年沒有能力管理好自己人生。故選A。

　　28【答案】D

　　【 解析】詞義猜測題。根據there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all.可知這位母親的女兒在青春期談戀愛，應是早戀。故選D。

　　29【答案】A

　　【 解析】推理判斷題。根據she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence.可知那位女兒最終會不受她男朋友的影響，自己會做出正確的決定。故選A。

　　30【答案】B

　　【 解析】標題歸納題。根據全文的兩封信可知一位母親認為17歲的女兒不聽自己的建議，會聽她男朋友的話，選擇一個不理想的大學而求助于編輯，編輯就此事給出的建議。因此本文的標題應是如何幫助我的女兒。故選B。

　　’s the least I could do. Please, I insist”，可知老人是因為感激而主動送他去面試場的。故選D。

　　59.【答案】B

　　【解析】細節理解題。根據老人的問題“你確實需要面試嗎？”及Jimmy的所想“With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview”可知，以他當時的狀態，他無法通過面試。故選B。

　　60.【答案】C

　　【解析】推理判斷題。Jimmy在應聘途中無償地幫助的老人正是他去面試公司的總經理，而后他被提供了那份工作。從這個故事中我們不難認識到：善有善報（Good is rewarded with good）。A項“有志者事竟成”；B項“患難見真情”；D項“三個臭皮匠頂個諸葛亮