IV. Reading comprehension (60 points )

　　Directions: There are five reading passages in this each passage is followed by four questions. For each questions there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

　　Passage One

　　For generations, the Nganyi people of western Kenya have served as rainmakers, helping local communities decide when best to prepare their land and sow their seeds. By observing subtle changes in nature that would be unnoticeable to most people-in air currents, the flowering and shedding of leaves of certain trees, the behaviour of ants, bird songs, etc-they have been able to interpret weather patterns and provide valuable advice.

　　But the irregular weather patterns brought by climate change mean the rainmakers can no longer use those sighs to make their predictions. And they don’t have access to the technologies available to meteorologists (气象学家).

　　“Climate change has come on so fast. People don’t know how to adapt or what to plant,”says Obedi Osoce, a traditional weatherman. “Our traditional crops are disappearing because they cannot handle the new conditions. We need new strategies to handle climate change.”

　　Now a British-Canadian project si doing just that, linking the rainmakers with government meteorologists. The two groups get together each season and produce an agreed forecast to be spread using a variety of methods suited to communities where many cannot read or write-through ceremonies, public meetings and person-to person comma-kation.

　　Both parties are pleased with the collaboration. “ I think the two sciences equally valid. We are marrying our energies to help people better,” says Mr. Onunga, a Nganyi community elder involved in the project.

　　‘The results have been surprisingly good-the community agreed that the forecast was accurate,” says Gilbert Ouma, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

　　“Through this project we hope to learn what it is that we can share together to live today and to adapt to tomorrow,”says Professor Laban Ogallo, leader of the Nganyi project.

　　36. Which of the following has been used by traditional Nganyi rainmakers in weather prediction?

　　A.Plant seeds B.Dog harks C.Bird songs D.Ocean currents

　　37. What difficulty do local rainmakers face in making weather predictions?

　　A. They cannot find an effective way to deliver messages.

　　B. They lack modern technologies to cope with climate change.

　　C. They cannot get financial support from the local government.

　　D. They lack the facilities to stop traditional crops from disappearing.

　　38. How do people involved in the British-Canadian project feel about their cooperation?

　　A. Satisfied B.Confused C. Hopeful D.Regretful

　　39. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?

　　A. A British-Canadian project has been carried out to solve farming problems.

　　B. The Nganyi people have made weather forecasts by observing changes in nature.

　　C. New technologies have replaced traditional methods in weather prediction in Kenya.

　　D. Scientists and Kenyan rainmakers work together in a joint weather prediction project

　　Passage Two

　　After taking a six-week, fully paid maternity leave (产假) earlier this year, Francine Gemperle was anxious to resume her job but reluctant to be away from her baby daughter, Veronika. Fortunately, she did’t have to choose between them. Maya Design, a Pittsburgh based creative consulting firm, allows parents to bring newborns into the office.

　　“If I’d had to leave my children after my maternity leave ended, I would never have goes back to work,” says Gemperle, a designer and researcher, who brought her son Milo into the office after he was born.

　　She’s not the only parent taking advantage of the benefit. Senior analyst Jon West brings his 10-mouth-old son, Owen, to the several times a month. In fact, when West considered using only part of his paternity leave, his co-workers urged him to take all six weeks.

　　“I had pressure to take that leave,” recalls West, “People told me, it’s an important part of your life and you need to experience it.”

　　“No matter how quiet the baby is, it’s an obvious distraction (分心的事),”says Tory Johnson, the chief executive of Women for Hire, a New York City-based recruiting film.

　　No one has complained yet. Even if somebody did, it wouldn’t matter to Mickey McManus, Maya’s CEO and president, who argues that the policy builds loyalty and helps parents shift back into work mode.

　　As part of its balancing act, Maya shares up to 20% of quarterly profits with its employees. However, the size of those checks might be up in the air at the moment. The firm once laid off five workers and it is now considering 4-day weeks to avoid more layoffs.

　　40. Which of the following is true about Maya Design?

　　A. It hires women with families.

　　B. It has some overseas branches.

　　C. It provide consulting services.

　　D. It encourages the staff to work at home.

　　41. What is Tory Johnson’s responsibility according to the passage?

　　A. Taking on women employees. B. Dealing with women’s complaints

　　C. Dismissing unqualified women staff D. Taking care of women staff welfare

　　42. What is the advantage of Maya’s policy according to Mickey McManus?

　　A. It cuts down the management cost. B. It increases staff loyalty to the film

　　C. It keeps a balance between work and life. D. It promotes equality un employment.

　　43. Which of these would be the best title for the passage?

　　A. A Flexible Working Schedule

　　B. A staff shortage in Maya Design

　　C. A Pittsburgh-based Working Place

　　D. A Company Taking Care of Young Parents

　　Passage Three

　　Harry Potter fans will instantly recognize the snowy owl as Harry’s famous companies, Hedwig, but these beautiful owls are easily recognizable not for their magical associations, but for their large size and striking while feathers. Snowy owls are, in fact, the only white owl, and they are a highly sought after species for many birdwatchers to add to their life lists.

　　Foods: Small mammals, birds, fish.

　　Habitat and Migration: Snowy owls are found in far northern latitudes including tundra, a vast treeless frozen region in the Arctic. Their breeding grounds (繁殖地) are in the Arctic tundra, and they migrate south throughout Canada during the winter. In exceptionally server winters or when food supplies are searce, these owls can appear much further south than their normal range. While principally a North American bird, they can also migrate to the northern areas of Europe an Asia.

　　Behaviour: Snowy owls, like all owls, are powerful animal bunters that are active mostly at night but can bunt and feed during the day, especially when food supplies are low. These owls will rest on the ground or on rocks, stumps and other low favorable points. Males can be fierce when defending the nest, and both genders will also perform an “injured bird” act to tempt animal invaders to go away from the nest.

　　Reproduction: Snowy owls may incubate (孵卵) 3-10 eggs for 30-34 days, or the incubation may be done primarily by the freak. The baby owls remain in the nest for 14-21 days and will attempt their first flight when they are 42-58 days old. Mated pairs will raise one group of young birds per year unless food supplies are inadequate and then no eggs may be produced.

　　44、What have you learned from Paragraph 1?

　　A. Harry Potter fans like snowy owls

　　B. Hedwig is one of the snowy owl watchers

　　C. The snowy owl is a large bird with white feathers

　　D. It is easy to find snowy owls in snow covered areas

　　45、What does Paragraph 3 tell about snowy owls?

　　A. The can be found in Asia and Europe

　　B. They live in groups in hard winter days

　　C. Their breeding grounds are in areas south to Canada

　　D. They appear in the Artic when food supplies are scarce

　　46、For snowy owls, one way to defend their nest is _____

　　A. to stand on a rock nearby B. to pretend to have been injured

　　C. to spread their wings D. to give a warning

　　47、What will snowy owls probably do when food is insufficient?

　　A. They may stop producing eggs B. They will reduce their flights

　　C. They will be less active at night D. They will only hunt during he day