alien UFO that had crashed in the New Mexico desert. (0.5分) A. cover-all B. cover-point C. cover-cap D. cover-up

19. No__19__proof has been produced to this day to__20__that theory. (0.5分) A. original B. definitive C. tentative D. derivative

20. No__19__proof has been produced to this day to__20__that theory. (0.5分) A. surpass B. deny C. support D. apprehend

Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension

Part A

阅读理解Part A （共20题）

Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C, and D. (40 points)

说明：阅读下面四篇文章并回答每篇文章后面的问题。（每小题2分，共计40分）

注意：本题只有一个正确选项。

Text 1

Influenza A (H5N1) is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among birds. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 among poultry and wild birds are ongoing in a number of countries. H5N1 does not usually infect people, however, a small number of human cases of H5N1 infection have been reported in association with these outbreaks. Most of these cases have occurred from direct or close contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. And while the H5N1 virus does not now infect people easily, infection in humans is very serious when it occurs; so far, about half of people reported infected have died.

The avian influenza A (H5N1) epizootic in Asia and parts of Europe, the Near East, and Africa is not expected to diminish significantly in the short term. It is likely that H5N1 infection among birds has become endemic in certain areas and that human infections resulting from direct contact with infected poultry and/or wild birds will

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continue to occur. So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person-to-person has been rare, limited and unsustained. No evidence for genetic reassortment between human and avian influenza A virus genes has been found; however, this epizootic continues to pose an important public health threat.

There is little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 infection in the human population. If these H5N1 viruses gain the ability for efficient and sustained transmission among humans, an influenza pandemic could result, with potentially high rates of illness and death. In addition, genetic sequencing of influenza A (H5N1) viruses from human cases in Vietnam and Thailand shows resistance to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine, two of the medications commonly used for treatment of influenza. This would leave two remaining antiviral medications (oseltamivir and zanamivir) that should still be effective against currently circulating strains of H5N1 virus. Efforts to produce vaccine candidates that would be effective against avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses are under way. However, it will likely require many months before such vaccines could be mass produced and made widely available.

Research suggests that currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses are becoming more capable of causing disease (pathogenic) in animals than were earlier H5N1 viruses. One study found that ducks infected with H5N1 virus are now shedding more virus for longer periods without showing symptoms of illness. This finding has implications for the role of ducks in transmitting disease to other birds and possibly to humans as well. Additionally, other findings have documented H5N1 infection among pigs in China and H5N1 infection in felines (experimental infection in housecats in the Netherlands and isolation of H5N1 viruses in tigers and leopards in Thailand).In addition, in early March 2006, Germany reported H5N1 infection in a stone marten (a weasel-like mammal). The avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that emerged in Asia in 2003 continues to evolve and may adapt so that other mammals may be susceptible to infection as well.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph 1? (2分) A. Human beings are easily to take contagion. B. Influenza A virus may have other subtypes. C. H5N1 virus is fatal to human beings.

D. Eating the infected poultry will definitely cause disease.

2. The word “epizootic” (Line 1, Paragraph 2) most probably means ________. (2分) A. human disease B. influence C. lethal virus

D. animal outbreak

3. Influenza A (H5N1) viruses show resistance to two of the commonly used medications for treatment of influenza, so__________. (2分)

A. the virus is more easily to transmit from animals to human beings

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B. other antiviral medications will lose their effectiveness in the near future C. the virus continues to evolve

D. it is necessary to produce vaccine candidates against the virus

4. The study on ducks infected with H5N1 virus does not show that___________. (2分)

A. during a long time period, the ducks are carrying virus without being aware by people

B. the ducks are more susceptible to infection

C. human cases of H5N1 infection may result from direct contact with the infected ducks

D. the influenza viruses have the ability to change

5. Which of the following is not true according to the text? (2分) A. The virus may begin to spread more easily from person to person. B. The worldwide epizootic will not decrease immediately.

C. Human beings get infected because of the genetic reassortment. D. The epizootic has caused tremendous fear among people.

Text 2

Critics and admirers of D.C. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey describe him the same way: a bright educator who has good ideas but implements them too slowly. Whether he is the right person to continue to lead the schools is up to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D). The sooner he answers the question, the better.

Legislation giving control of the schools to the mayor is still pending in Congress and then must be signed by President Bush. Mr. Fenty has said he won't make a decision about Mr. Janey until he is officially given control of the schools. His caution is understandable, but this limbo is unhealthy, not just for the superintendent but also for the 55,000 students who will be starting a new school year in little more than three months. Just as Mr. Fenty didn't wait until he was officially mayor to render his opinion on the police chief or to name his city administrator, he shouldn't hesitate with his schools chief.

In fact, most observers are saying Mr. Fenty has already made up his mind -- that there is little chance that Mr. Janey will be his chancellor under the new system of school governance. While there would be advantages to retaining Mr. Janey -- continuity and his knowledge of the issues -- his lack of urgency in bringing about change has been troubling. Too many good ideas have been allowed to languish. Mr. Fenty is staking his political future on improving the schools, so it's only right that he choose someone who he is convinced can do the job. Names have already started to surface: Foremost is that of Rudolph F. \Crew, the former New York City schools chancellor and now Miami-Dade (Fla.) superintendent, who enchanted city officials three years ago before he withdrew his name from consideration. Mr. Crew is involved in an ugly power struggle in Miami, and his indiscreet boasting that D.C. officials were again interested in him should give Mr. Fenty pause.

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So what should Mr. Fenty be looking for? We posed that question to a wide range of education advocates, civic activists and city leaders. Certain attributes appeared with regularity. At the top of everyone's list was an ability to manage -- and fix -- complex systems. Interestingly, this was deemed much more important than a background in education. Also key is a willingness to implement the existing master education plan. The last thing the District needs is more time lost as yet another educator tries to come up with a plan on which to stamp his or her name. Being accessible and communicative were also cited as vital qualities.

Mr. Fenty has shown, by some of his previous appointments, a willingness to break the traditional mold, and that fresh approach could serve him well. No doubt the decision he makes in the coming weeks will be one of the most important of his administration. But let's not make the mistake of thinking that one person will ride into the city and be able to fix everything. The system and the culture of the schools have to change. That means principals having the power to control what goes on in their schools, radical changes in the way teachers are assigned and compensated, and a basic reordering of a bureaucracy that has a stake in the status quo.

1. The word “limbo” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) most probably means________. (2分) A. administration B. intermediary C. legislation D. emergency

2. According to most people’s opinion, Mr. Fenty should not choose someone_______. (2分)

A. who has the ability to manage complicated systems

B. who has the willingness to implement the existing master education plan C. who tries to come up with a plan on which to stamp his or her name D. who is accessible and communicative

3. What is the author’s attitude towards the government? (2分) A. Praiseful B. Supportive C. Wrathful D. Negative

4. Which of the following is the best title for this text? (2分) A. What Should Mr. Fenty Be Looking for? B. A Bright but Slow Educator. C. Time to Decide.

D. Education Reform is Imperative.

5. From the text we can infer that_________. (2分)

A. Mr. Fenty is eager to change D.C. School’s current situation

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