American beekeeping operations have been hit hard by what scientists call colony collapse disorder(C.C.D.). Almost half of their worker bees have disappeared during the past season. C.C.D. has also been reported in Israel, Europe and South America. Bees fly away from the hive and never return. Sometimes they are found dead; other times they are never found. Many crops and trees depend on pollination （授粉） by bees to help them grow.
A new report says virus may be at least partly responsible for the disorder in honey bee colonies in the United States. This virus is called Israeli acute paralysis virus. It was first identified in Israel in 2004. Ian Lipkin at Columbia University in New York and a team reported the new findings in Science magazine. Doctor Lipkin says the virus may not be the only cause. He says it may work with other causes to produce the collapse disorder.
The team found the virus in colonies with the help of a map of honey bee genes that was published last year. They examined thirty colonies affected by the disorder. They found evidence of the virus in twenty–five of them, and in one healthy colony. The next step is further testing of healthy hives.
The researchers suggested that the United States may have imported the disorder in bees from Australia. They say the bees may carry the virus but not be affected.
The idea is that unlike many American bees, the ability of Australian bees to fight disease has not been hurt by the varroa mite（全球性的蜂虱）. This insect attacks honey bees, which could make the disorder more likely to affect a hive. Australian bee producers reject these suspicions.
And some researchers suspect that bee production in the United States is down mainly because of the weather. Honey bees gather nectar（花蜜） from flowers and trees. The sweet liquid gives them food and material to make honey. But cold weather this spring in the Midwest reduced the flow of nectar in many flowers. Many bees may have starved. Dry weather in areas of the country could also be playing a part.
Wayne Esaias is a NASA space agency scientist who keeps bees in his free time. He lives in central Maryland, where he has found that flowers are blooming a month earlier than they did in 1970, which may be partly responsible for the disorder. Wayne Esaias is organizing a group of beekeepers to document nectar flow around the country.
1.The researchers found the virus ______.
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A．with the help of colony collapse disorder |
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B．by researching the causes of bee death |
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C．with the help of a map of honey bee genes |
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D．with the help of a scientist of NASA |
2.What is the passage mainly about?
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A．American beekeeping industry has been strongly influenced by the bee disorder. |
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B．Studies are being carried out on the causes of the bee disorder, but questions remain. |
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C．How the causes of the bee disorder in U.S have been found. |
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D．The bee production in U.S is down because of Israeli acute paralysis virus. |
3.How many possibilities may be involved in the bee disorder according to the passage?
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A．Three. |
B．Four. |
C．Five. |
D．Six. |
4.We can infer from the passage that ______.
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A．Israeli acute paralysis virus should be responsible for the disorder |
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B．the solution to the bee disorder will be found eventually |
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C．American bees are more likely to defend themselves than Australian bees |
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D．the crop and plant production in U.S may be influenced by the bee disorder |
Nuclear energy has always been controversial. But since the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima (Japan) last year the issue is back in the headlines. And the world is divided— some countries are planning more nuclear plants, while others have promised to shut theirs down.
After Fukushima, Germany decided to switch off all its nuclear plants by 2022. Switzerland and Italy are also phasing out nuclear power. But France and the United States remain staunch supporters of atomic energy. In fact, almost 80% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, the highest percentage in the world. And in the US, the Obama administration said it “continues to support the expansion of nuclear power, despite the crisis in Japan.”
Nuclear supporters claim nuclear power can help the environment. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power doesn’t create greenhouse gases. So, pro-nuclear countries argue that nuclear power allows them to generate energy without contributing to climate change. Britain’s chief scientific adviser (John Beddington) supports this view. He recently said that the world doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring nuclear energy.
Nuclear power is also relatively cheap. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro and wind power may be clean, but they’re expensive; and right now, they require a lot of investment. This higher cost of using “green energy” is usually passed onto the consumer. So, while many people may prefer their energy to come from a renewable source, not so many are prepared to pay higher energy bills. This is of particular concern while the world economy is in such bad shape.
The main argument against nuclear energy is that it isn’t safe. For a start, nuclear waste is very difficult to dispose of, and remains toxic to humans for thousands of years. And even before Fukushima, there were several high-profile nuclear disasters. The most famous is probably the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, in the Ukraine. The radiation from the meltdown spread all over Europe, affecting thousands.
The nuclear energy issue is very complex. And it doesn’t look like it’ll be resolved anytime soon. As a Japanese commentator recently said, “it’s been a bad year for the ‘nuclear village’, but I don’t think they’re down and out yet.” The battle continues.
1.Which of the following may NOT be the advantage of nuclear energy over other energy sources?
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A．Nuclear energy doesn’t produce any greenhouse gases. |
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B．Nuclear energy can help prevent the climate damage. |
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C．Nuclear energy is more environmental-friendly than other green energy sources. |
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D．Nuclear energy can save the consumers some money, compared to other renewable energies. |
2.What does the underlined word “this” refer to in paragraph 4?
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A．The fact that many people prefer to use the green energy sources while unwilling to pay higher bill. |
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B．The cost of using renewable sources |
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C．The fact that the nuclear power is cheaper. |
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D．The investment of renewable energy sources |
3.We can learn from the last paragraph that _______.
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A．the Japanese commentator is positive about the future of nuclear energy |
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B．the nuclear energy issue will be soon settled |
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C．a battle will break out in the future |
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D．Japan is considering to build a nuclear village in the future |
4.What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
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A．To highlight the danger of using nuclear energy. |
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B．To introduce some serious nuclear disasters. |
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C．To show the argument between nuclear supporters and protesters. |
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D．To give some advice on how to use nuclear energy safely. |
At Priya's wedding party, her mother gave her a newly opened bankbook and said, "Priya, keep it as a 21 of your marriage life. When something 22 happens, put some money in and give a brief 23 to it next to the line. The happier the event is, the more money you can put in. When 24 after years, you will know how much happiness you've 25 ".
Priya and Hitesh both thought it a great idea and soon made the first deposit(储蓄). 26 , after years, they started quarrelling and fighting. They both 27 marrying the worst person in the world.
One day Priya talked to her mother, "Mom, we can't 28 it any more. We decided to get divorce! I can't imagine 29 I decided to marry this Guy!!!" Her mother responded, "Just do whatever you want, but before that do one thing first. 30 the bankbook I gave to you on your wedding party? Take out all the money and 31 it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a 32 marriage. "Priya thought it was 33 . So she went to the bank, 34 to draw out all the money. While waiting in the queue, she took out the bankbook and recalled the memories of all the previous 35 . Her eyes filled with tears, she left in a (an) 36 . When she returned home, she handed the bankbook to Hitesh, asking him to spend the money.
The next day, Hitesh gave the bankbook back to Priya. 37 , she found a new deposit of $5000, with a line next to the record:" This is the day I 38 how much I've loved you. How much happiness you've brought me." Much 39 , they hugged and cried, putting the bankbook back to their 40 .
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Find ways to praise your children often, ____ you’ll find they will open their hearts to you.
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A．till |
B．and |
C．or |
D．but |
—He should have been warned of the danger.
—_______, but he wouldn’t listen to me .
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A．So he had |
B．So had he |
C．So was he |
D．So he was |
Putin will run for president next March in an election that could open the way for him to stay in ______ for 12 more years.
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A．power |
B．force |
C．energy |
D．work |
