The State of Marriage Today
Is there something seriously wrong with marriage today? During the past 50 years, the rate of divorce in the United States has exploded: almost 50％of marriages end in divorce now, and the evidence suggests it is going to get worse, if this trend continues. It will lead to the breakup of the family, according to a spokesperson for the National Family Association. Some futurists predict that in 100 years, the average American will marry at least four times and extramarital affairs(婚外恋) will be even more common than they are now.
But what are the reasons for this, and is the picture really so depressing? The answer to the first question is really quite simple: marriage is no longer the necessity it once was. The practice of marriage has been based for years partly on economic need. Women used to be economically dependent on their husbands as they usually didn’t have jobs outside the home. But with the rising number of women in well-paying jobs, this is no longer the case, so they don’t feel that they need to stay in a failing marriage.
In answer to the second question, the prospects may not be as pessimistic as they seem. While the rate of divorce has risen, the rate of couples marrying has never actually fallen very much, so marriage is still quite popular. In addition to this, many couples now cohabit(同居) and don’t bother to marry. These couples are effectively married, but they do not appear in either the marriage or divorce statistics. In fact, more than 50％of first marriages survive. The statistics are unreliable because there is a higher number of divorces in second and third marriages than in first marriages.
So is marriage really an outdated practice? The fact that most people still get married indicates that it isn’t. And it is also true that married couples have a healthier life than single people: they suffer less from stress and its consequences, such as heart problems, and married men generally consider themselves more satisfied than their single counterparts. Perhaps the key is to find out what makes a successful marriage and apply it to all of our relationships!
65. What does ―this is no longer the case‖ in paragraph two mean? A. It is not necessary to get married any more. B. Women do not need a husband any longer.
C. Women are not economically dependent any more. D. Many wives do well-paying jobs outside home now.
66. Why may the prospects of marriage not be as depressing as it appears? A. Many people still like to get married.
B. The rate of divorce has actually decreased. C. many couples would rather cohabit than marry D. The statistics of divorce is not quite true。
67. How do people usually feel in their marriage life?
A. They are much safer. B. They feel no longer single. C. They are more satisfied. D. They suffer a lot less.
68. Which of the following about marriage is NOT mentioned in the passage? A. There will be more relationships outside marriage. B. Many people try to get married again after divorce. C. Marriage has long been partly an economic need. D. It is a fact that most people choose to get married.
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（B）
The Hawaiian Islands
◆◇◆Hawaii
The ―Big Island‖ of Hawaii is a paradise (天堂) playground where visitors can enjoy a popular lifestyle and at the same time, witness the attraction of nature: thousands of square miles form a wonderland, featuring breathtaking beaches, forests, snow–covered mountains and amazing active volcanoes. A visit to Volcanoes National Park, which is described as a true wonder of the world, is a must. It is the state’s biggest attraction.
◎Accommodations
Seasons Resort Hualalai: from $ 205.00 Fairmont Orchid: from $108.00 ◎Sightseeing and Experiences Circle Island Tour: from $48.00 ◆◇◆Kauai
The beautiful landscape of Kauai has led to it being called the ―Garden Isle‖, but it is also referred to as the ―Island of discovery‖, and with good reason – a land of striking natural contrasts just waiting to be explored. Green mountains, a breathtaking coastline and white sand beaches combine to make this magical place one of the world’s most relaxing locations.
◎Accommodations
Grand Hyatt Kauai: from $ 101.00 Sheraton Kauai Resort: from $ 79.00 ◆◇◆ Maui
Voted the ―World’s Best Island‖, Maui is widely regarded as one of the most romantic destinations on earth.
It is known as the ―Valley Isle‖ and was the ancient playground for Hawaiian royalty. The island is largely rural with a small and wonderful population and a host of attractions and nature wonders.
◎Accommodations
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: from $ 87.00 Sheraton Maui: from $ 99.00 ◆◇◆Oahu
Oahu has a unique rhythm, filling the air with sweet fragrances (香气), music and language: from beaches and nightlife to rainforests and valleys. Adventure, romance, discovery – Oahu waits for you.
◎Accommodations
Halekulani: from $ 121.00
Hilton Hawaiia: Village: from $ 73.00 ◎Sightseeing and Experiences
Royal Circle Island Tour: from $ 34.00 Paradise Cove Lu’au: $ 44.00 ◆◇◆Lanai
Lanai in one of the smallest Hawaiian Island, yet it’s full of surprises. Known as the ―Pineapple Isle‖, it combines all the natural beauties ranging from the paradise of Shipwreck Beach to underwater sea caves.
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◎Accommodations
Four seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay: from $ 134.00 ※All prices are based on per person per night.
69. For two adults spending two nights in one of the accommodations, they have to pay at least .
A. $73.00 B. $146.00 C. $136.00 D. $292.00 70. According to the passage, the ―Garden Isle‖ . A. is the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands B. is a place to explore the land of nature
C. is an island with a very small population D. features beaches, forests and snow-covered mountains
71. The passage is mainly intended to . A. tell differences between islands in Hawaii
B. provide a better understanding of the geography of Hawaii C. offer accommodation services to the tourists D. attract people to make a visit to Hawaii
（C）
Longer Lives for Wild Elephants
Most people think of zoos as safe places for animals, where struggles such as difficulty finding food and avoiding predators don't exist. Without such problems, animals in zoos should live to a ripe old age.
But that may not be true for the largest land animals on Earth. Scientists have known that elephants in zoos often suffer from poor health. They develop diseases, joint problems and behavior changes. Sometimes, they even become unable to have babies.
To learn more about how captivity(监禁) affects elephants, a team of international scientists compared the life spans of female elephants born in zoos with female elephants living outdoors in their native lands. Zoos keep detailed records of all the animals in their care, documenting factors such as birth dates, illnesses, weight and death. These records made it possible for the researchers to analyze 40 years of data on 800 African and Asian elephants in zoos across Europe. The scientists compared the life spans of the zoo-born elephants with the life spans of thousands of female wild elephants in Africa and Asian elephants that work in logging camps(伐木场), over approximately the same time period.
The team found that female African elephants born in zoos lived an average of 16.9 years. Their wild counterparts who died of natural causes lived an average of 56 years——more than three times as long. Female Asian elephants followed a similar pattern. In zoos, they lived 18.9 years, while those in the logging camps lived 41.7 years.
Scientists don't yet know why wild elephants seem to live so much better than their zoo-raised counterparts. Georgia Mason, a biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada who led the study, thinks stress and obesity(肥胖) may be to blame. Zoo elephants don't get the same kind of exercise they would in the wild, and most are very fat. Elephant social lives are also much different in zoos than in the wild, where they live in large herds and family groups.
Another finding from the study showed that Asian elephants born in zoos were more likely to die early than Asian elephants captured in the wild and brought to zoos. Mason suggests stress in
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the mothers in zoos might cause them to have babies that are less likely to survive.
The study raises some questions about acquiring more elephants to keep in zoos. While some threatened and endangered species living in zoos reproduce successfully and maintain healthy populations, that doesn't appear to be the case with elephants.
72. According to the first two paragraphs, unlike other zoo animals, zoo elephants _______ . A. have difficulty eating food. B. 1ive to a ripe old age. C. are not afraid of predators. D. develop health problems.
73. Which of the following about the international scientists' research on the life spans of elephants is NOT true? (See paragraph 3)?
A. They compared zoo elephants with wild elephants.
B. They kept detailed records of all the elephants in their care. C. They analyzed the records of the elephants kept in zoos.
D. The zoo-born elephants they studied are kept in European zoos. 74. What do the scientists find in their research?
A. Female elephants live longer than male elephants.
B. Female zoo elephants live longer than their wild counterparts.
C. Female zoo elephants die much earlier than their wild counterparts. D. Elephants in zoos and those in the wild enjoy the same long life spans. 75. Which of the following does the author suggest in the last paragraph? A. It may not be a wise policy to keep elephants in the zoo. B. Elephants are no longer an endangered species.
C. Zoo-born elephants should be looked after more carefully. D. Zoos should keep more animals except elephants.
Section C
Directions: Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A—F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.
An interview with Benno Nigg, the sports scientist
A. What kind of technology might we see in sports shoes of the future? B. What should people look out for when buying a new pair of sports shoes? C. Will a more expensive shoe make me run faster or jump higher, as the ads suggest? D. Is it true that expensive shoes are no better at preventing injury than cheap ones? E. Some people say we should run just as well without shoes. What’s your opinion? F. You helped develop the unstable Masai MBT shoes. Does this design actually work? 76. Nigg’s Answer: That is a little bit overstated. But the literature shows that shoes are a minor player in injury development. If you take a group of people and want to injure them, send them out every day for a 20-kilometre run. A lot of them will be injured in three weeks. The major factors are the distance run, the intensity and recovery time, not the shoes.
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77. Nigg’s Answer: The problem is that if you go to a store and want to find your best shoes, you don’t know what to do. Things that are sometimes done, like video analysis of your rear foot movement, may not help. The only way to assess whether a shoe is right for you is how it feels. If you feel comfortable in a shoe, it’s likely to be good for you. 78. Nigg’s Answer: A shoe may act as a training device, making some muscles to function more effectively for a majority of users. Or it may use materials that last longer. That may have something to do with its price. However, for the average runner it is difficult to distinguish between actual functional designs and unnecessary features. Generally, the more a shoe controls movement, the more it acts like a cast, which means you lose some muscle strength, and your feet are more likely to be injured. 79. Nigg’s Answer: Yes, for about 80 per cent of people. The major benefits are training the small muscles crossing the ankle joint, and a reduction of knee and lower back pain. However, some claims for these unstable shoes are overstated, such as the general muscle strengthening that they are claimed to produce. 80. Nigg’s Answer: There are claims that there are fewer injuries when you run barefoot, but there is not yet enough evidence, or enough research, to prove that. If you look at performance, most papers suggest an advantage of 3 to 4 per cent. With a few exceptions, people don’t run barefoot, so it may be that it’s not an advantage, or it may be that we’re just not used to it.
Section D
Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions or complete the statements in no more than 12 words.
Planting trees around poultry(家禽) farms can improve air and water quality – and relations with neighbors. Research has shown that just three rows of trees near poultry houses can reduce the release of dust and ammonia (氨). They can also reduce the strong smell of ammonia gas.
The trees capture dust, ammonia and smells in their leaves. They can also reduce energy use. They also provide shade from the sun, so they reduce cooling costs in summer. And they act as a windbreak, so they reduce heating costs in winter. Trees can also improve water quality around farms by removing pollutions from soil and groundwater.
Several years ago, people were objecting to the smell of poultry farms on the Delmarva Peninsula in the eastern United States. Delmarva is where the states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia come together. Two thousand farms there can each house an average of seventy-five thousand chickens.
Traditionally the farms used windows to provide fresh air in the chicken houses. Farmers rarely planted trees or tall crops around the buildings, so there would be no barrier to the airflow.
But then in the 60s, farms began to use mechanical ventilation(通风) systems. Instead of
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