Passage One
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.
Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu, and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. Thats because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three virusesflu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness, but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine , which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA.
But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities, there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome ，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.
11. According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help ________.
A) shorten the duration of the illness
B) the patient buy medicine over the counter
C) the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs
D) prevent people from catching colds and the flu
12. We learn from the passage that ________.
A) one doesnt need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu
B) aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu
C) delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system
D) over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu
13. According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, ________.
A) one should identify the virus which causes it
B) one should consult a doctor as soon as possible
C) one should take medicine upon catching the disease
D) one should remain alert when the disease is spreading
14. Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?
A) A stuffy nose.
B) A high temperature.
C) A sore throat.
D) A dry cough.
15. If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents ________.
A) are advised not to give them aspirin
B) should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome
C) are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination
D) should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever
这篇文章讲的是应该如何区别对待感冒和流感。因为文章旨在向普通民众传播医疗知识，所以遣词造句较为简易，结构清晰易辨，理解的难度不大。
文章开篇指出两点，一是感冒与流感有很多相似的症状，二是应当学会区分感冒和流感。这两点也是文章所述内容的纲领，后者是论述的侧重点。
第二段引用医疗权威ALA的指导原则，指出区分普通感冒与流感的原因所在：辨别出是哪种疾病后可以立即进行相应的治疗。对于流感来说，要马上把医生的药房付诸实施;对感冒来说，则要立即服用非处方药。
接下来的几段从致病成因、预防手段、症状等方面介绍了感冒与流感的区别。
第三段讲述了二者的致病因素，感冒源于二百多种病毒，而流感源于三种病毒。作者附带讲到流感的预防方法：接种疫苗。而普通感冒的预防方法则跳到了最后一段：frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact，勤洗手，不与感冒病人密切接触。
四、五、六段介绍了感冒与流感在症状上的区别。第四段只起了承上启下的作用，第五段详细讲解了二者的区别。第六段则指出一个特例：婴幼儿和学龄前儿童的流感症状不易辨认。
第七段讲的是治疗方法，着重说明了治疗禁忌：少年儿童不宜服用阿司匹林。
Passage Two
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
In a time of low academic achievement by children in the United States, many Americans are turning to Japan, a country of high academic achievement and economic success, for possible answers. However, the answers provided by Japanese preschools are not the ones Americans expected to find. In most Japanese preschools, surprisingly little emphasis is put on academic instruction. In one investigation, 300 Japanese and 210 American preschool teachers, child development specialists, and parents were asked about various aspects of early childhood education. Only 2 percent of the Japanese respondents listed to give children a good start academically as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. In contrast, over half the American respondents chose this as one of their top three choices. To prepare children for successful careers in first grade and beyond, Japanese schools do not teach reading, writing, and mathematics, but rather skills such as persistence, concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group. The vast majority of young Japanese children are taught to read at home by their parents.
In the recent comparison of Japanese and American preschool education, 91 percent of Japanese respondents chose providing children with a group experience as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. Sixty-two percent of the more individually oriented Americans listed group experience as one of their top three choices. An emphasis on the importance of the group seen in Japanese early childhood education continues into elementary school education.
Like in America, there is diversity in Japanese early childhood education. Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development. In large cities, some kindergartens are attached to universities that have elementary and secondary schools. Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university-based program, it will increase the childrens chances of eventually being admitted to top-rated schools and universities. Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing in some Japanese kindergartens.
16. We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe ________.
A) Japanese parents are more involved in preschool education than American parents
B) Japans economic success is a result of its scientific achievements
C) Japanese preschool education emphasizes academic instruction
D) Japans higher education is superior to theirs
17. Most Americans surveyed believe that preschools should also attach importance to ________.
A) problem solving
B) group experience
C) parental guidance
D) individually-oriented development
18. In Japans preschool education, the focus is on ________.
A) preparing children academically
B) developing childrens artistic interests
C) tapping childrens potential
D) shaping childrens character
19. Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to ________.
A) broaden childrens horizon
B) cultivate childrens creativity
C) lighten childrens study load
D) enrich childrens knowledge
20. Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university-based kindergartens?
A) They can do better in their future studies.
B) They can accumulate more group experience there.
C) They can be individually oriented when they grow up.
D) They can have better chances of getting a first-rate education.
这是一篇讲述日本学前教育的材料，因为文章是讲给美国人看的，所以附带介绍美国的学前教育以和日本进行对比。材料一共只有三大段，第一大段指出日本学前教育的侧重点，第二段进一步说明日本学前教育侧重点中对集体主义的重视，第三段则说明日本学前教育除集体主义外的丰富内容。
第一段开头实际上提出了研究日本学前教育的原因：low academic achievement by children in the United States，大意是美国的儿童教育成效不明显，这迫使人们把目光投向了教育和经济水平都很高的日本，以期得到答案。这一探询的结果是出乎美国人意料的，日本学前教育很少强调功课指导，这也是本文的主要观点。文章接下来以问卷调查为论据对这一观点进行了论证。
问卷调查的结果是日本人更重视坚韧、专注和集体主义等素质的培养，第二段继续对集体主义这一项素质做了进一步说明：91%的日本人将其列为学前教育的三大目标之一，这项教育甚至会延续到小学教育。
最后一段讨论了除去上述素质教育外，日本学前教育的其他内容和特色。其中包括早期音乐训练和潜力发掘，附属于大学，以及自由玩耍。
Passage Three
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
Lead deposits, which accumulated in soil and snow during the 1960s and 70s, were primarily the result of leaded gasoline emissions originating in the United States. In the twenty years that the Clean Air Act has mandated unleaded gas use in the United States, the lead accumulation worldwide has decreased significantly.
A study published recently in the journal Nature shows that air-borne leaded gas emissions from the United States were the leading contributor to the high concentration of lead in the snow in Greenland. The new study is a result of the continued research led by Dr. Charles Boutron, an expert on the impact of heavy metals on the environment at the National Center for Scientific Research in France. A study by Dr. Boutron published in 1991 showed that lead levels in arctic snow were declining.
In his new study, Dr. Boutron found the ratios of the different forms of lead in the leaded gasoline used in the United States were different from the ratios of European, Asian and Canadian gasolines and thus enabled scientists to differentiate the lead sources. The dominant lead ratio found in Greenland snow matched that found in gasoline from the United States.
In a study published in the journal Ambio, scientists found that lead levels in soil in the Northeastern United States had decreased markedly since the introduction of unleaded gasoline.
Many scientists had believed that the lead would stay in soil and snow for a longer period.
The authors of the Ambio study examined samples of the upper layers of soil taken from the same sites of 30 forest floors in New England, New York and Pennsylvania in 1980 and in 1990. The forest environment processed and redistributed the lead faster than the scientists had expected.
Scientists say both studies demonstrate that certain parts of the ecosystem respond rapidly to reductions in atmospheric pollution, but that these findings should not be used as a license to pollute.
21. The study published in the journal Nature indicates that ________.
A) the Clean Air Act has not produced the desired results
B) lead deposits in arctic snow are on the increase
C) lead will stay in soil and snow longer than expected
D) the US is the major source of lead pollution in arctic snow
22. Lead accumulation worldwide decreased significantly after the use of unleaded gas in the US ________.
A) was discouraged
B) was enforced by law
C) was prohibited by law
D) was introduced
23. How did scientists discover the source of lead pollution in Greenland?
A) By analyzing the data published in journals like Nature and Ambio.
B) By observing the lead accumulations in different parts of the arctic area.
C) By studying the chemical elements of soil and snow in Northeastern America.
D) By comparing the chemical compositions of leaded gasoline used in various countries.
24. The authors of the Ambio study have found that ________.
A) forests get rid of lead pollution faster than expected
B) lead accumulations in forests are more difficult to deal with
C) lead deposits are widely distributed in the forests of the US
D) the upper layers of soil in forests are easily polluted by lead emissions
25. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that scientists ________.
A) are puzzled by the mystery of forest pollution
B) feel relieved by the use of unleaded gasoline
C) still consider lead pollution a problem
D) lack sufficient means to combat lead pollution
这是一篇典型报刊写法的文章，文章开头首先点出全篇论述的主题，把核心思想和关键信息和盘托出。第一段提供的信息主要有两点，一是六七十年代的铅沉积的主要源头是美国，二是无铅汽油在美国推广后，全球范围内的铅沉积减少幅度很大。以后段落的内容全部围绕这两个信息点展开说明。
第二段是对第一段所提供的两点信息进行具体地解释，其中包括信息来源，研究机构，研究者，以及信息细节;第二个信息源于Boutron于1991年发表的另一项研究成果。
第三段是对第一个信息的说明，指出之所以把格陵兰的雪中沉积的铅归因于美国的含铅汽油，是因为美国与其他地区所使用的汽油成分比率不同，这里的雪中铅的比率大部分符合美国汽油特点。
接下来的三个段落是对第二个信息的说明。首先是信息来源和信息内容，其次是研究结果发表之前许多科学家们的设想，最后是研究主要过程。
最后一段总结了这两项研究成果的现实意义，指出其不应成为对污染不加控制的理由。
Passage Four
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.
Exercise is one of the few factors with a positive role in long-term maintenance of body weight. Unfortunately, that message has not gotten through to the average American, who would rather try switching to light beer and low-calorie bread than increase physical exertion. The Centers for Disease Control, for example, found that fewer than one-fourth of overweight adults who were trying to shed pounds said they were combining exercise with their diet.
In rejecting exercise, some people may be discouraged too much by caloric-expenditure charts: for example, one would have to briskly walk three miles just to work off the 275 calories in one delicious Danish pastry . Even exercise professionals concede half a point here. Exercise by itself is a very tough way to lose weight, says York Onnen, program director of the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Still, exercises supporting role in weight reduction is vital. A study at the Boston University Medical Center of overweight police officers and other public employees confirmed that those who dieted without exercise regained almost all their old weight, while those who worked exercise into their daily routine maintained their new weight.
If you have been sedentary and decide to start walking one mile a day, the added exercise could burn an extra 100 calories daily. In a years time, assuming no increase in food intake, you could lose ten pounds. By increasing the distance of your walks gradually and making other dietary adjustments, you may lose even more weight.
26. What is said about the average American in the passage?
A) They tend to exaggerate the healthful effect of light beer.
B) They usually ignore the effect of exercise on losing weight.
C) They prefer light beer and low-calorie bread to other drinks and food.
D) They know the factors that play a positive role in keeping down body weight.
27. Some people dislike exercise because ________.
A) they think it is physically exhausting
B) they find it hard to exercise while on a diet
C) they dont think it possible to walk 3 miles every day
D) they find consulting caloric-expenditure charts troublesome
28. Even exercise professionals concede half a point here means They ________.
A) agree that the calories in a small piece of pastry can be difficult to work off by exercise
B) partially believe diet plays a supporting role in weight reduction
C) are not fully convinced that dieting can help maintain ones new weight
D) are not sufficiently informed of the positive role of exercise in losing weight
29. What was confirmed by the Boston University Medical Centers study?
A) Controlling ones calorie intake is more important than doing exercise.
B) Even occasional exercise can help reduce weight.
C) Weight reduction is impossible without exercise.
D) One could lose ten pounds in a years time if theres no increase in food intake.
30. What is the authors purpose in writing this article?
A) To justify the study of the Boston University Medical Center.
B) To stress the importance of maintaining proper weight.
C) To support the statement made by York Onnen.
D) To show the most effective way to lose weight.
本文讲的是身体锻炼在减肥中的作用。全部材料共四个段落，各论述不同方面的内容。前两段可以作为一个整体，主要讲许多人在减肥时只节食不锻炼的事实和原因;后两段也可以做为一个整体，主要论述材料的核心观点：体育锻炼对减肥的重要性，第三段从正面强调了这一观点，最后一段以走路为例对这一观点做了支持。
第一段指出了许多减肥中的美国人对体育锻炼不够重视的事实，引出材料的论题。第一句话实际上就已经提出了文章的中心论点：锻炼是对长期保持体重起积极作用的少有因素之一，只是文章没有马上对这个观点进行正面论述，而是先列出美国人普遍存在的不锻炼现象，以反托正。这里需要注意几点信息，一是锻炼对减肥的帮助体现在较长时期上，最后一段的例子也是围绕这一信息的。二是这里讨论的锻炼只针对于重视节食的减肥人群，不是普通人。
第二段解释了减肥人群不重视身体锻炼的原因。作者用数据说话：精神抖擞地步行3英里才只消耗掉一个小甜饼的热量275卡路里。而后用专业人士的话做以总结：身体锻炼费力不讨好。
最后二段从正面对身体锻炼在减肥中的作用做了论述。作者引用波士顿大学医疗中心的研究成果，指出不锻炼的人的体重多数会反弹，而锻炼的人则不会。然后以走路为例向人们说明身体锻炼确实对减肥有所帮助。
26. What is said about the average American in the passage?
A) They tend to exaggerate the healthful effect of light beer.
B) They usually ignore the effect of exercise on losing weight.
C) They prefer light beer and low-calorie bread to other drinks and food.
D) They know the factors that play a positive role in keeping down body weight.
本题问材料中关于一般美国人有何说法。
A， 他们倾向于夸大淡爽啤酒的健康作用。
B， 他们通常忽视身体锻炼在减肥上的作用。
C， 与其他饮料和食品相比，他们更喜欢淡爽啤酒和低卡路里的面包。
D， 他们知道哪种因素在减肥中扮演了积极的角色。
这道题的题干看似十分宽泛，需要读完一定的段落后综合考虑才能解答，但实际上并不复杂，只是对单句的考查而已。因为这是第一道题，它的答案只要到第一段的前半部分寻找就可以了。题目中的关键词是average American，在第一段中提到这个词的一句是that message has not gotten through to the average American, who would rather try switching to light beer and low-calorie bread than increase physical exertion。这里的that message肯定应该在前一句，也就是Exercise is one of the few factors with a positive role in long-term maintenance of body weight.。词组has not gotten through to指的是在中并不流行，这里的意思就是那一信息对于一般美国人来说并没有受到重视。
Who引导了一个从句，是对一般美国人的描述。这里使用了would rather than句型，意思是美国人宁可把兴趣投向淡爽啤酒和低卡路里面包，也不增加身体锻炼。
四个选项中，B的意思很显然符合文意。A的说法在这个句子中没有给出，C的说法应该把其他饮料和食品改成身体锻炼，D的说法与B正好相反。
27. Some people dislike exercise because ________.
A) they think it is physically exhausting
B) they find it hard to exercise while on a diet
C) they dont think it possible to walk 3 miles every day
D) they find consulting caloric-expenditure charts troublesome
题目问有些人不喜欢锻炼身体是因为什么。
A，他们认为锻炼太耗费体力。
B，他们发现节食的同时进行锻炼太辛苦了。
C，他们认为每天步行3英里是不可能实现的。
D，他们发现参考卡路里消耗表非常麻烦。
材料内第二段专门对有些人不喜欢锻炼的原因进行了说明。主要有二句话。第一句：some people may be discouraged too much by caloric-expenditure charts，这句话的意思是卡路里消耗表会使有些人非常泄气，后面给出了原因，即锻炼消耗的卡路里太少。由此看来，并不是他们觉得参考卡路里消耗表麻烦，D的说法不对。第二句借专业人士之口说出了原因：Exercise by itself is a very tough way to lose weight。Tough这个词强调艰苦、艰难性，也就是说用锻炼来减肥太过于艰难了。与前面消耗卡路里的说法结合起来就是：因为锻炼消耗的卡路里非常少，所以要想减肥的话，锻炼的投入要非常大才能起到效果。这样B就是对的。如果问节食的同时在第二段没有提到，可以参看前面的全文分析，整篇材料所指的锻炼减肥就是在节食的基础上进行的锻炼减肥。
A的说法也不对，如果锻炼如此耗费体力，那么它的效果一定就会非常明显了，相信人们就会趋之若鹜了。实际情况与此相反，锻炼消耗的卡路里非常少。C的说法在材料里不能体现。
28. Even exercise professionals concede half a point here means They ________.
A) agree that the calories in a small piece of pastry can be difficult to work off by exercise
B) partially believe diet plays a supporting role in weight reduction
C) are not fully convinced that dieting can help maintain ones new weight
D) are not sufficiently informed of the positive role of exercise in losing weight
这道题多数教育机构给出的答案是B，对此我们有不同的意见。
题目问Even exercise professionals concede half a point here这句话是什么意思。
这道题考查的是对句子的理解，必须把句子放在上下文环境中理解。
第二段讲的是有些人不愿靠锻炼身体减肥的原因。在这个句子前面的一句在第二题中已经做了分析，意思是卡路里消耗表会使有些人非常泄气，因为步行3英里仅仅消耗275卡路里的能量。暗含锻炼身体费力不讨好的意思。这个句子后面引用了专业人士的话，应该是对这一句子的具体说明。
再来分析这个句子。Even，甚至;exercise professionals是运动专家;concede意思是acknowledge, often reluctantly，即勉强承认;half a point，这里有一半道理是对的，实际上并不非要是一半的道理，笼统指有一定的道理;here，应该指的是锻炼身体实际上对于减肥来说费力不讨好这个观点运动专家为了自己的利益，当然是极力支持运动的好处的，那么使他们勉强承认的东西自然是有碍他们利益的， 锻炼身体实际上对于减肥来说费力不讨好这个观点恰恰有碍于他们的利益。
A，他们承认一块小面饼中的卡路里通过锻炼消耗掉是困难的。一块小面饼中的卡路里通过锻炼消耗掉是困难的这句话是用来支持锻炼身体实际上对于减肥来说费力不讨好这个观点的，所以他们可以说是承认一块小面饼中的卡路里通过锻炼消耗掉是困难的这句话有一定的道理。A的说法正确。
B，他们部分地认为节食在减肥中起到了支撑作用。前面已经分析过，运动专家承认的是运动本身的一些局限性，他们没有对节食的作用提出任何观点。或许运动本身的局限性可以反衬出节食的支撑作用，但文中没有明确，绝对不能生造。
C，他们并不完全相信节食能够帮助保持住减肥过的体重。这是后面两段的内容。
D， 他们并未充分认识到锻炼在减肥中的积极作用。对于锻炼在减肥中的积极作用，应该不会有人比运动专家更清楚了。D的说法完全错误。
29. What was confirmed by the Boston University Medical Centers study?
A) Controlling ones calorie intake is more important than doing exercise.
B) Even occasional exercise can help reduce weight.
C) Weight reduction is impossible without exercise.
D) One could lose ten pounds in a years time if theres no increase in food intake.
题目问波士顿大学医疗中心的研究验证了什么。
A，控制卡路里摄入比身体锻炼更为重要。
B，即便是偶尔锻炼一次对减肥也是有帮助的。
C，不锻炼而实现减肥是不可能的。
D，如果没有在食物摄入量上的增加，一个人能够在一年内减轻十磅。
第三段对波士顿大学医疗中心的研究做了描述，其中直接出现了confirm一词，验证的内容是：those who dieted without exercise regained almost all their old weight, while those who worked exercise into their daily routine maintained their new weight，那些节食而不锻炼的人几乎全部反弹到原来的体重，而那些把锻炼身体列入日常项目的人则保持住了减肥后的体重。
从这句话不能判断出控制卡路里摄入是否比身体锻炼更重要，因为有可能锻炼而不节食的人，其减肥效果也不明显。A不对。
从这句话也不能推出B的说法，另外B的说法本身也是不对的，从第四段的例子来看，偶尔一次锻炼对减肥没有帮助，必须长期坚持锻炼才有效果。
C的说法正确。节食而不锻炼的人几乎全部反弹到原来的体重，说明不锻炼的话根本无法实现减肥这个目的，almost强调这一现象涵盖几乎所有人，具有一般性。
D是第四段所举的例子中提到的内容，与该中心的研究无关。
30. What is the authors purpose in writing this article?
A) To justify the study of the Boston University Medical Center.
B) To stress the importance of maintaining proper weight.
C) To support the statement made by York Onnen.
D) To show the most effective way to lose weight.
题目问作者写作这篇文章的目的是什么。
A，证明波士顿大学医疗中心的研究是正确的。
B，强调保持合适体重的重要性。
C，支持York Onnen的言论。
D，向人讲述最有效的减肥方法。
从前面的分析可知，这篇文章主要讲的是身体锻炼在减肥中的重要性，A和C提到的人物和机构都只是作者用来支撑这一观点的论据而已，可以首先排除。B的说法也是明显错误的，文章讲的是如何保持合适的体重，而不是在强调其重要性。这样不必看D就可以直接选择了。作者强调了身体锻炼在减肥中的重要性，向人们说明最好在节食的同时参加体育锻炼，这可以说是介绍了一种最好的减肥方法。
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