With the American’s Midterm Elections over, and a new Commander-in-Chief about to step in, some Americans are a little nervous about the nation’s future. But others feel secure, knowing that the man they consider the most powerful person in the world isn’t going anywhere. Just who is this behind-the-scenes guy they think has more power than George W. Bush ever will He’s Alan Greenspan, a 74-year-old expert economist who heads the Federal Reserve, commonly known as the Fed. Unlike the president, who has to please the voters and compromise with Congress, Greenspan doesn’t have to answer to anyone. But that doesn’t mean his job is easy. Basically, Greenspan is in charge of keeping the nation’s economy stable. The economy is sort of like a balloon: blow in too much air, and it pops. But with too little air, it falls to the floor. Greenspan helps decide when to blow more air into the economy. In this case, the air in a balloon is. the amount of money in the economy. Greenspan can make the economy grow by increasing the money supply, or keep the economy from inflating too much by decreasing the money supply. His goal is for the economy to grow and contract gradually. Rapid changes can harm businesses and consumers. In a speech lately, Greenspan hinted the Fed was concerned the economy might be slowing down too fast. What Greenspan actually said was that the Fed should "remain alert to the possibility that greater caution and weakening asset values in financial markets could signal or precipitate(促成) an excessive softening in household and business spending. "But what investors heard was: "I may lower interest rates which will make it easier for the companies you are investing in to borrow money. That means they’ll expand and their stock will be worth more in the future." Within hours of Greenspan’s remarks, so many investors bought stocks that the Dow Jones and the NASDAQ rose by three percent and ten percent that day. The value of some companies went up by millions of dollars, just because investors had confidence in Greenspan’s words. But Greenspan doesn’t just work magic by talking. He was educated at New York University and Columbia and appointed to his job in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. And he’s credited with steering the country through some difficult times since then, including a serious stock market crash just after he took the job. Another reason Greenspan has become almost a celebrity in America, is that more people are paying attention to the stock market than ever before. It used to be that only rich people and powerful corporations had the extra money to invest in stocks. But the U.S. economy has done so well in recent years, that more and more ordinary people are investing in stocks. He’s a native New Yorker. His first focus was music: He attended New York’s Julliard School and toured the country for a year in the early 1940s, playing in the Henry Jerome swing band(摇摆乐队). If nothing else, friends believe, this experience of US travel gave him the ability to connect dispassionate(不带感情的) economic theories with the individuals they affect. "The most outstanding thing about his is he knows the American economy…," says friend Herbert Stein, an economist. A swing into economics carried him straight into moderate Republican politics. He advised Richard Nixon in his 1968 campaign, and served briefly in the Bureau of the Budget. Seven years later, he returned to government service, replacing Mr. Stein as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the final days of Nixon presidency. He agreed only after being assured that Vice President Ford would keep him. In that role, he helped formulate the inflation―fighting blueprint of the 1970s that reduced inflation from 11 to 6.5 percent. Greenspan is also known for taking hot morning baths that last as long as an hour, with his inbox within reach. The practice began years ago to counter a bad back. That has not kept him off Washington’s tennis courts, where he is renowned competitor. "I found his intensity remarkable and his approach shot serious," says one of Greenspan’s partners. Married to NBC newswoman Andrea Mitchell, Greenspan is also famous for his syntax(句法), or rather, the way it conceals virtually anything that could be said to be an opinion. This is partly the result of the natural silence of Fed officials, who understand that markets hang on their every word. But it is also part of Greenspan’s personality. One friend remembers encountering him in an airport, after violent storms had almost shut down air traffic on the East Coast. Asked about the weather, the Fed chairman said hesitantly that is was "OK." "He couldn’t even bring himself to be conclusive about the weather!" says’ the friend. After years of very high growth, the American economy is starting to slow down. Recently, corporations have been making less money and people are starting to have a harder time finding jobs. Greenspan is hoping to ease the economy into a soft landing―to make the car come to a gentle stop instead of hitting a brick wall. If he succeeds, the country will avoid two possible problems: rising prices and high unemployment. At the Fed’s meeting, Greenspan and the other members decided that the economy was growing at an OK rate, but that there is a possibility of a serious slowdown. If they are worried that the whole economy is starting to sink, they could lower interest rates at the next meeting in an attempt to encourage people to borrow and spend. While there’s no way to know what they will decide, one thing is certain: the decisions that Greenspan and the Federal Reserve Board make will affect everyone who earns, borrows or spends money.Why did Greenspan answer the question about weather hesitantly A．Because he needed to see clearly what the weather was like.B．Because he has a habit of being careful with his words.C．Because he was thinking about something important.D．Because he didn’t know the person who asked him the question.

36 Finally, diversifying our diet away from heat sensitive wheat, corn, rice and other crops could also help "We've seen profound changes in the last decades in what we eat largely as a result of international trade, and I think that trend toward more diversification will continue," Jarvis says. "Depending on a greater number of plant species creates a more vigorous and less risky food system—and one that provides a broader range of nutritional requirements."36. One consequence of climate change is that some people may not have adequate access to certain foods.37. People around the world are eating foods more similar than what they used to eat.38. A recent news report talked about scientific efforts to help crops survive droughts through genetic engineering.39. It is predicted that climate change will affect the availability and price of quality chocolate.40. People wonder if certain crops and foodstuff could disappear like some animal species due to climate change.41. Although farms in the US can move a bit northward, crop yields may decrease.42. One possible solution to the food security problem is diversification of diet.43. It remains unsettled whether the global food supply problem can be solved by creating heat-tolerant through genetic engineering.44. Poor people may have to give up eating certain foods because of their high prices.45. A number of existing farming technologies could be used to reduce the negative effect of climate change on food production.

Section B-|||-Directions:In this section,you will hear two passages.At the end of each passage,you will hear three or four-|||-questions.Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question,you must-|||-choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on-|||-Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.-|||-Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.-|||-9.A)It helps employees to reduce their stress. B)It prevents employees from feeling bored.-|||-C)It strengthens harmony among employees. D)It helps employees to view things positively.-|||-10.A)Weekends are conducive to reducing stress. B)Humor is vital to interpersonal relationships.-|||-C)All workers experience some emotional stress. D)Humor can help workers excel at routine tasks.-|||-11.A) Smash the toys to release their bottled-up resentments.-|||-B)Take the boss doll apart as long as they reassemble it.-|||-C)Design and install stress-reducing gadgets.-|||-D) Strike at the boss doll as hard as they like.-|||-Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.-|||-12.A)The recent finding of a changed gene in obese mice.-|||-B)A breakthrough in understanding gene modification.-|||-C)A newly discovered way for people to lose weight.-|||-D)The self-repairing ability of a gene in obese mice.-|||-13.A)It renders an organism unable to fight diseases.-|||-B)It prevents the mice`s fatty tissues from growing.-|||-C)It helps organisms adapt to environmental changes.-|||-D)It renders mice unable to sense when to stop eating.-|||-14.A)Human beings have more obesity genes than most mice do.-|||-B)Half of a person`s total weight variation can be controlled.-|||-C)People are born with a tendency to have a certain weight.-|||-D)The function of the obesity genes is yet to be explored.-|||-15.A)The worsening of natural environment. B)The abundant provision of rich foods.-|||-C)The accelerated pace of present-day life. D)The adverse impact of the food industry.Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear two passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear aquestion, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 9 to 11 are based onthepassage you have just heard. 9. A) It helps employees to reduce their stress. B) It prevents employees from feeling bored. C) It strengthens harmony among employees. D) It helps employees to view things positively. 10.A) Weekends are conducive to reducing stress.B) Humor is vital to interpersonal relationships. C) All workers experience some emotional stress. D) Humor can help workers excel at routine tasks. 11. A) Smash the toys to release their bottled-up resentments. B) Take the boss doll apart as long as they reassemble it. C) Design and install stress-reducing gadgets. D) Strike at the boss doll as hard as they like. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard. 12. A) The recent finding of a changed gene in obese mice. B) A breakthrough in understanding gene modification. C) A newly discovered way for people to lose weight. D) The self-repairing ability of a gene in obese mice. 13. A) It re nders an organism unable to fight diseases. B) It prevents the mice's fatty tissues from growing. C) It helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. D) It renders mice unable to sense when to stop eating. 14.A) Human beings have more obesity genes than most mice do. B) Half of a person's total weight variation can be controlled. C) People are born with a tendency to have a certain weight. D) The function of the obesity genes is yet to be explored. 15. A) The worsening of natural environment. B) The abundant provision of rich foods. C) The accelerated pace of present-day life. D) The adverse impact of the food industry.

He kept on working to make rice better:salt-tolerant to grow by the coast crossbred with corn to be more nutritious enriched with vitamin A to improve people s eyesight . 2 His mind was filled with the thought that if just half of the rice fields in the world were planted with his hybrid rice an increase in yield of two tons per hectare would feed 400-500 million more people every year . 3 And he still talked of plants taller than a man.^---^What types of statistics are presented A Numbers of measurements B Dates C Percentages

85. (1.0分) Fill in the blanks with the properwords given below, changing the form if bat interactive blessing disappointmentnotification annoyance omit perplexedThe world leaders outlined joint efforts to_the spread of nuclear weapons.

An outright ban on plastics could cause even more harm to the environment and lead to triple the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.That's the finding of experts from Herriot-Watt University in Edinburgh，who say that replacing plastic with alternate materials such as metal and glass won't help the environment.The team say this is because the manufacturing of these replacements could double global energy consumption.Resources required to process these replacement materials would lead to more energy consumption and more greenhouse gas.Campaigners have called for reductions or bans，with recent programs such as the BBC's Blue Planet highlighting the impact of plastics on the world's oceans. But the learn of forty academics said surrounding a reduction or ban are often shortsighted and not based on facts.The waste products produced when making metal and glass are all bad for the environment.The major environmental impact of glass and metal production is caused by atmospheric emissions from melting activities.The burning of natural gas or fuel oil and the decomposition of raw materials during the meting lead to the edition of CO.Professor David Blackall，who led the research，said that transportation of consumer goods in plastic packaging means fewer vehicles because plastic is lightweight.Therefore burning less fuel and greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The academics draw expertise from engineering，science，economies and social science，said there needs to be a "circular economy" for plastic usage. "Almost everything we touch or interact with on a daily basis is made of or contains a plastic of some description， " said Professor David Bucknall，chairman in materials chemistry from the university's Institute of Chemical Sciences. "Banning or reducing their use would have a massive impact on the way we live. "So whilst some people may wish for plastics to be reduced or banned altogether，we need to ensure we are replacing them with materials that are better for the planet.In many cases there is no credible alternative to using a plastic so we need to move towards a "circular economy" for plastics，rather than the largely "make-use-dispose" model we currently adopt.（1）What might be the best title for the text？ ____ A.Plastics Can Cause More Harm to the EnvironmentB.We Need to Replace Plastic with Alternate Materials such as Metal and GlassC.We Need to Move Towards a "Circular Economy" for PlasticsD.Banning Plastic Won't Help the Environment（2）What can we learn about the program of BBC's Blue Planet？ ____ A.It stresses the importance of plastics on the world's oceans.B.It explains the effect of plastics on the world's oceans.C.It promotes reductions or bans of plastics.D.It opposes replacing plastics with materials that are better for the planet.（3）According to Professor David Bucknall，what seems to be the best solution？ ____ A. "Make-use-dispose" model.B.An outright ban on plastics.C.A "circular economy" for plastics.D.Using alternatives such as glass and metal.

4 Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Chang the form where necessary. Each word can be used only once.accumulationaccusationassassinationcalculationexhaustionfalsehoodmanhood1 Through years of service, the____ experience and knowledge was invaluable to the agency.2 The village was divided into two groups: those who wanted him cleared of the crime and those who wanted the____ against him proven to be true.3 As the boys grow to____, they are encouraged to learn important lessons about each other, their fathers, and themselves.4 We have made some____ within our own organization and found the method was not really a practical way of recovering the heat energy.5 After days of hunger and____ the two puppies found one of our feeding stations and made it their new home.6 The proposed plan is designed to support the crackdown (严厉打击) against drug dealers, which was launched by the government after the____ of the president.7 It is difficult to imagine a world without common sense and the distinction between truth and____.

SELECT WORD IN NEW CONTEXTUse the words from the box to complete the following sentences and change forms when necessary. The words are the same as Task 5 while the sentences create new contexts.slimshabbyproperappallingpurposeoleacresemblestundespairtender1. She is too ____ to ever use curse words.2. The ____ of the research is to find out more about the causes of the disease.3. Cook the chicken in the pan until it is ____.4. John was in ____ about losing his job.5. The fashion model had a(n) ____ figure.6. You ____ your mother very closely.7. Conditions in the prison are said to be ____8. Wearing ____ jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt to dinner is not appropriate.9. The snake uses its venom to ____ its prey.

阅读理解Just 30 years ago, Berlin was a city divided into two by the Berlin Wall. How excited people were as the Berlin Wall came down. Since then, Berlin has become one of the coolest cities in Europe. Here are the main reasons why I think Berlin is cool.First, Berlin has cheap hotels and everyday objects(物品). You needn't worry about spending too much money when visiting Berlin.Second, Berlin knows how to give parties, and there is a festival here every month of the year. Perhaps the most famous is the Berlin International Film Festival (the BIFF).Third, Berlin has beautiful buildings of its own. The Brandenburg Gate is one of the city's most famous buildings. It's the symbol(象征)of more than 200 years of history. The TV Tower is as good as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the London Eye.Lastly, Berlin is a city of living art. Artists can create works of art on the sides of buildings.If you want to visit a European city with culture, cheap objects and lots of colours, Berlin is the place to be. What are you waiting for? Get to Europe's coolest city before anyone else discovers it.(1)The Berlin Wall came down in ______.A.1969 B.1979 C.1989 D.1999(2)The writer does NOT tell us that ______ in Berlin.A.everyday objects are cheapB.how often a festival is heldC.people know how to give partiesD.in which month the BIFF is held(3)According to the 4th paragraph(段落), ______ great buildings of Berlin are mentioned.A.two B.three C.four D.five(4)The writer suggests that we ______.A.create works of artB.choose Berlin as the city to visitC.build some towers like the Eiffel TowerD.discover a cooler city than Berlin to visit(5)Which is the best title(题目)for the passage?A.Berlin's festivalsB.erlin—a really cool cityC.Berlin's beautiful buildingsD.Berlin—a city of living artEvery year on my birthday since I was 11, a white gardenia(栀子花)was sent to my house. No card ever came with it. Calls to the flower shop were not helpful at all. After some time I stopped trying to find out the sender's name and was just pleased with the beautiful flower, in soft pink paper.I couldn't stop imagining who the giver might be. Some of my happiest moments were spent daydreaming(幻想)about the sender. My mother encouraged these daydreams. She'd ask me if I had been especially kind to someone. Perhaps it was one of my classmates. Perhaps it was the old man who I once helped. As a girl, I had more fun imagining that it might be a boy that I had met.A month before my high school graduation(毕业), my father died. I was so sad that I became completely uninterested in my coming graduation dance, and I didn't care whether I had a new dress or not. My mother, in her own sadness, would not let me miss(错过)any of those things. She wanted her children to feel loved. In fact, my mother wanted her children to see themselves much like the gardenia: lovely, strong and perfect.My mother died ten years after I was married. That was the year the gardenia stopped coming.(1)The writer received ______ on her birthday since she was 11.A.a white gardenia B.a card C.a card and soft pink paper D.a gardenia and a card(2)The writer was very ______ when she was imagining who sent the flower.A.happy B.sad C.worried D.nervous(3)It can be inferred(推断)from the passage that ______.A.the writer didn't get a new dress for the danceB.the writer probably joined in the graduation danceC.the writer's father died ten years earlier than her motherD.the writer's father received a gardenia on each of his birthdays(4)The writer got the gardenias from ______ on her birthdays.A.her classmate B.the old man C.the boy D.her mother(5)The passage mainly talks about ______.A.what a gardenia meantB.what a girl dreamed aboutC.how a mother loved her childrenD.how a daughter missed her fatherLots of students know what a marathon(马拉松赛跑)is, but perhaps they don't know what a triathlon is. The triathlon is a sport that has three parts—swimming, bicycling and running. It is not an easy sport, but a man named Joe Salter is very good at it. A few months ago, he finished a special triathlon—he juggled(抛起接住)three balls all the time during the triathlon. That is to say, he kept on throwing and catching three balls while he was swimming, riding a bicycle and running.31-year-old Joe is from Florida, the USA. He loves juggling and he started at the age of 8. Joe did well in juggling. Later, he got the idea to do a triathlon and juggle at the same time to make it more fun. Many juggling fans laughed at his idea and thought it was just a joke. But Joe didn't give up and he kept practising it. Because of his hard work, he made it at last.Talking about his triathlon, Joe said swimming was the hardest part. "It was difficult and complex(复杂的)," he said. "I basically only used my legs, so it took quite a lot of work. Also, swimming in open water made it a little harder. It was not like in a pool."(1)According to the writer, the common triathlon ______.A.is a difficult sportB.is more famous than the marathonC.includes the three parts and jugglingD.includes the marathon and swimming(2)Joe's triathlon was special because ______ during the triathlon.A.he picked up three ballsB.he played jugglingC.he carried his bicycle on his shoulderD.he threw away all his balls(3)Many juggling fans thought Joe's idea ______.A.could not be realizedB.should not be laughed atC.should be realized as soon as possibleD.could make triathlon more exciting(4)The underlined part "made it" in the 2nd paragraph probably means ______.A.forgot B.failed C.succeeded D.left(5)Swimming was the hardest part for Joe mainly because ______.A.he swam in open waterB.his swimming skills were badC.he was very tired when swimmingD.he almost could only swim with his legs请仔细阅读下题中关于五个人旅游情况的描述,从A-G中选择出与之相对应的旅游建议,其中有两项为多余选项。A. In German-speaking countries, few stores or restaurants accept payment by credit card. It's wise to take more cash（现金）with you.B. It's famous for pyramids and clothing made of silk and leather. To find good things, you'd better go to Cairo. In February and August, they are often on sale.C. There are many things you can buy, such as handmade clothing, silk ties and silver jewelry（珠宝）. Why not buy a silk tie? Thai silk is quite famous.D. Florence is well-known for its handmade leather goods. You could take time to stop by the Florence Leather School where you can find lots of good leather goods.E. In Hong Kong, you should look at the same product in different shops. Then you will have a better idea of what is the right price for the product.F. You don't need to buy expensive presents. With 5-10 euros, you can buy a wonderful scarf. You could also buy Mini Eiffel Towers. Each of them only costs about 2 euros.G. When you're on vacation in America, do not miss Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world. It's famous for the natural sights, especially the hot fountains.(1)Mary plans to spend her holiday in Egypt. She is interested in clothes made of silk.(2)Alice can't wait to fly to Italy. She wants to buy a leather(皮革)handbag there before she comes back home.(3)Susan's dream is to visit Vienna, the capital city of Austria. Her dream will come true soon because she won a tip to the City of Music just now.(4)Kate is looking forward to her vacation to Paris. She needs to buy some presents for her friends in Paris, but she doesn't have much money.(5)Frank has been in Thailand for two weeks. He will fly back home next week. He is shopping online for presents. But he has no idea what to buy..

Things you should know about your library card Library cards Cards are free to all library users. Cards are renewed annually. Your library card enables you to register at other public libraries across the city. Responsibility Users are responsible for returning all materials borrowed on their card by the date due (到期的)and for any charges on items that are overdue, lost or damaged. Please report your lost card immediately. Items borrowed on the card are still your responsibility. Charges for lost or damaged materials are based on the cost and include handling fees. Renewals(续借) Most items can be renewed twice unless someone has requested them. There are no renewals on DVDs, videos, or CD-Roms. Fines Borrowing is free if materials are returned by the due date. If your materials are returned late, fines (罚款)are charged: ―30 cents per day for most adult items ―10 cents per day for most junior materials ―1 per day for adult DVDs ―50 cents for junior DVDs.According to the passage, the library card can be registered at ______. A. the library only in your neighborhoodB. other public libraries in the cityC. college libraries onlyD. all online libraries