46. What is a big problem with American higher education?

A. It is hard to enroll enough students into college.

B. Many colleges are experiencing low rate of graduation.

C. Many college students stay away from classes.

D. It is hard for many colleges to get financial aid from the government.

47. Why do some students under--match ?

A. Because they have financial difficulty.   B. Because they face ambition crisis.

C. Because they lack confidence.      D. Because they can’t get guidance.

48. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. problems with secondary American education and possible solutions

B. America’s financial crisis, its cause and influence

C. low rate of American college graduation, its cause and its influence

D. relationship between American education and its economy

C

You’re in a bit of a dilemma standing in front of the produce section of your local supermarket. In one hand, you’re holding a conventionally grown Granny Smith apple.In your other hand, you have one that’s been organically grown.Both apples are firm, shiny and green.Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.

The conventionally grown apple costs less and is a proven family favorite.But the organic apple has a label that says “USDA Organic”.Does that mean it’s better? Safer? More nutritious? Several differences between organic and non-organic foods exist.Become a better informed consumer for your next trip to the supermarket.

The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat.Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease.

Here are other differences between conventional farming and organic farming:

Conventional farmers Organic farmers

Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth. Apply natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants.

Apply insecticides to reduce pests and disease. Use beneficial insects and birds to reduce pests and disease.

Give animals antibiotics (抗生素), growth hormones(激素) and medications to prevent disease and promote growth, housing. Give animals organic food and allow them access to the outdoors.Use preventive measures -- such as a balanced  diet  and  clean housing - to help minimize disease.

* Organic or not? Check the label.

The U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards.These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed.Any farmer or food manufacturer who labels and sells a product as organic must be USDA certified as meeting these standards.Only producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic foods are exempt (免除) from this certification.

If a food bears a USDA Organic label, it means it’s produced and processed according to the USDA standards.The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it.

49.The main purpose of the passage is ________________.

A.to promote the sales of organic food

B.to inform people organic food is better for their health

C.to persuade people to become informed consumers

D.to compare conventional and organic foods

50.According to the passage, the conventionally grown apple ______________.

A.costs less but tastes worse than an organic one

B.doesn't look the same as an organic one

C.has proven itself acceptable by the family

D.contains more fat, sodium and cholesterol

51.Which of the following methods belongs to organic farming?

A.Using chemicals to kill insects and prevent disease.

B.Using rotted plants as fertilizer to promote plant growth.

C.Using growth hormones to speed up animals' growth.

D.Using pests to reduce insects and disease.

52.From the passage we know the organic certification program ______________.

A.is not meant for all producers of produce

B.makes it compulsory to attach a USDA Organic label

C.sets restrictions on the sales of organic produce

D.requires all foods to satisfy the strict government standards

D

I don't ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it's like to work in a field dominated by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-time and the nature of black holes.

At 19, when I began studying astrophysics(天体物理学), it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as 3 post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers, awards— was viewed through the lens of gender (性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus (相对于) right brain, or nature versus nurture (培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.

Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations: I don't talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn't want to deal with gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don't study sociology or political theory.

Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women's college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer; 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don't dismiss those concerns. Still, I don't tell them "war" stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that's a sight worth talking about.

53. From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would attribute the author's failures to_______.

A. the very fact that she is a woman

B. her involvement in gender politics

C. her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist

D. the burden she bears in a male-dominated society

54. What did the author constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D. and post-doctoral research?

A. Lack of confidence in succeeding in space science.

B. Unfair accusations from both inside and outside her circle.

C. People's stereotyped attitude towards female scientists.

D. Widespread misconceptions about nature and nurture

55. Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class?

A. Female students no longer have to worry about gender issues.

B. Her students' performance has brought back her confidence.

C. Her female students can do just as well as male students.

D. More female students are pursuing science than before.

56. What does the image the author presents to her students suggest?

A. Women students needn't have the concerns of her generation.

B. Women have more barriers on their way to academic success.

C. Women can balance a career in science and having a family.

D. Women now have fewer discrimination problems about science career.

E

Two hours from the tall buildings of Manhattan and Philadelphia live some of the world’s largest black bears. They are in northern Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, a home they share with an abundance of other wildlife.

The streams, lakes, meadows, mountain ridges and forests that make the Poconos an ideal place for black bears，have also attracted more people to the region. Open spaces are threatened by plans for housing estates and important habitats are endangered by highway construction. To protect the Poconos’ natural beauty from irresponsible development, the Nature Conservancy (大自然保护协会) named the area one of America’s “Last Great Places”

Operating out of a century-old schoolhouse in the village of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the conservancy’s bud Cook is working with local people and business leaders to balance economic growth with environmental protection. By forging partnerships with people like Francis Altemose, the Conservancy has been able to protect more than 14,000 acres of environmentally important land in the area.

Altemose’s family has farmed in the Pocono area for generations. Two years ago Francis worked with the Conservancy to include his farm in a county farmland protection program. As a result, his family’s land can be protected from development and the Altemoses will be better able to provide a secure financial future for their 7-year-old grandson.

Cook attributes the Conservancy’s success in the Poconos to having a local presence and a commitment to working with local residents