Coral reefs(珊瑚礁)are not just beautiful to look at, but also very useful. They shelter nearly 25% of ocean life and provide food for billions of people. However, like many other species，this amazing ecosystem(生态系统)is in danger of dying out!

There are two main reasons for the destruction—the rising carbon dioxide levels caused by global warming as well as human influences like bottom operation．While not much can be done about the former, the loss caused by the latter can be reduced.

Bottom operation involves dropping nets to the ocean bed and then dragging them up when filled with fish. This action damaged the ocean floor, causing the coral branches to separate from the reefs. While that is very discouraging, the good news is that if these branches are found quickly, they can be saved. At present, that work is being performed by volunteer divers. But the method has only limited success because they cannot stay long underwater, nor reach depths of over 200 meters where some of the deep-sea coral grows.

However, this is not the case for Coralbots—the robots that can constantly seek out broken branches. A team of ‘coralbots’, each individually working to simple rules will piece together damaged bits of coral, allowing them to regrow. They are programmed to be able to distinguish between other things and the coral. The robots work together in groups, similar to bees. If one coralbot is damaged then the others will still be able to complete the task.

Dr Lea-Anne Henry said: “The project of using coralbots offers us the possibility to restore(修复)the function of reefs．It is in the final stage of testing. Once ready, the researchers hope to build hundreds of them and use them effectively in the waters off Scotland and then hopefully in the oceans across the world.”

21. Which of the following is a cause of the danger that coral reefs are facing?

A. The appearance of new creatures       

B. The seriously polluted sea water

C. The activities of volunteer divers  

D. Human activities like bottom operation

22. Compared with volunteer divers, coralbots ______________．

A. can stay longer underwater           B. must work as bees do

C. can distinguish what is coral      D. can never be damaged

23. What does the underlined word “them” in the last paragraph refer to?

A. Coralbots                     B. Broken branches

C. Working bees                   D. Bits of coral

24. We can infer from the passage that _______________．

A. bottom operation has affected most underwater creatures

B. broken branches of coral can regrow if saved in time

C. hundreds of the coralbots have worked well in the oceans

D. with the coralbots all damaged coral reefs can be restored

   The English writer Samuel Johnson famously said, “You find no man who is willing to leave London. No, sir when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” More than two centuries have passed since Johnson’s age, but his words still ring true. Here, you’ll find the historic Tower of London and the Tate Modern both considered must-sees. Shakespeare’s sonnets(十四行诗) are still being uttered by actors. Londoners most certainly still look up to the royals, but they also rock out to Coldplay and Lily Allen. And while they still sip tea, they now drink Starbucks, too.

How to Save Money in London

Find the free attractions. Many of London’s top things to do, including the National Gallery, Hyde Park and the Portobello Road Market, are absolutely free to enjoy.

Ride the Tube. Taking taxis will add up quickly, so buy a pay-as-you-go Oyster Card and travel on London’s underground system, nicknamed the "Tube".

Dine smart. Corridors like Brick Lane offer fantastic cultural food for bargain prices; fish and chip shops are a cheap standby and takeaway food costs less than dine-in.

London Culture & Customs

London is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and its residents tend to reflect that. Practically, pack an umbrella for the rainy days and a scarf or some layers for the chilly ones. As for tipping, restaurants and cafes will usually add a 10- to 15-percent service charge to the bill. If a service charge is not allotted(指定), it’s customary to tip the same (between 10 and 15 percent). If you’re drinking at a pub or wine bar, tipping is flexible. And in a taxicab, tip the driver to the nearest pound or about 10 percent of the cost.

London Dining

London used to be highly criticized for its heavy and common menu items. Now, London is considered as one of the most gourmet cities in the world. And with its melting pot of cultures, it’s not difficult to see why. London offers everything from modern British to Malaysian. For Indian food, we suggest visiting the curry houses on Brick Lane. If you want a real high tea experience, book reservations at the Ritz, at Fortnum & Mason, or at the Dorchester — but be sure to dress the part. Pub culture is still alive and well, so if you have a hankering for fried fish and salty chips (or French fries), you’ll still find them here. And for a quick bite, exchange a few pounds for a kebab, a quick sandwich or some to-go sushi, which can be found in eateries throughout the city.

25. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. Life in London is exciting but tiring.

B. Londoners are traditional and fashion conscious.

C. Many well-known writers like to live in London.

D. Coffee is more popular with Londoners than tea.

26. The underlined word "hankering" in the last paragraph can be replaced by"________".

A. preparation         B. respect          C. desire         D. talent

27. In which column of a newspaper can we find the passage?

A. Culture.    B. Travel.      C. Education.        D. Entertainment.

   Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.

My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren’t written until the final threat.

I’ve been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master’s degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student(技校学生). They’re called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.

When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he’s a good kid,” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”

I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don’t often make school honor rolls(光荣榜).

But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don’t have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it , but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.

My son ,with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts(零件）from a junkyard, and ability from vo-tech classes. The lost was $25 instead of $80.

Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.

These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.

I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don’t need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.

My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.

28. What used to be the author’s hope for his son?

A. To avoid becoming his clone.             B. To resemble him in appearance.

C. To develop in a different direction.       D. To reach the author’s unachieved goals.

29. What can we learn about the author’s children?

A. His daughter does better in school.         B. His daughter has got a master’s degree.

C. His son tried hard to finish homework.    D. His son couldn’t write his book reports.

30.In the author’s eyes, motorheads are _______.

A. tidy and hardworking         B. cheerful and smart

C. lazy but bright            D. relaxed but rude

31. What did the author realize in the end?

A. It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path.

B. It is important for one to make the honor roll.

C. Architects play a more important role than builders.

D. Motorheads have greater ability than office workers.

   A warm drink of milk before bed has long been the best choice for those wanting a good night’s sleep. But now a study has found it really does help people nod off—if it is milked from a cow at night.

Researchers have discovered that “night milk” contains more melatonin(褪黑激素), which has been proven to help people feel sleepy and reduce anxiety.

The study, by researchers from Seoul, South Korea, involved mice being fed with dried milk powder made from cows milked both during the day and at night.

Those given night milk, which contained 10 times the amount of melatonin, were less active and less anxious than those fed with the milk collected during daytime, according to the study published in The Journal of Medicinal Food.

     Night milk quickened the start of sleep and caused the mice to sleep longer.

     While the effect of cows milk harvested at different time has not been tested on humans up to now, taking melatonin drugs has been suggested to those who are struggling to fall asleep at night.

     Previous studies have also indicated that milk can be excellent for helping sleep because of the calcium content, which helps people to relax.

     Milk is also sugar-free and additive-free with nutritionists recommending skimmed milk as the best choice before bed as it is the least fattening. The more fat you take in before bedtime, the greater burden you will put on your body at night.

32.According to the text, the mice fed with daytime milk _________.

   A. started sleep more easily

   B. were more anxious

   C. were less active

   D. woke up later

33.Which of the following is true of melatonin according to the text?

A. It’s been tested on mice for ten years

B. It can make people more energetic.

C. It exists in milk in great amount.

D. It’s used in sleeping drugs.

34.What can be a suitable title for the text?

    A. Night Milk and Sleep

    B. Fat Sugar and Health

    C. An Experiment on Mice

    D. Milk Drinking and Health

35.How does the author support the theme of the text?

    A. By giving examples.

    B. By stating arguments.

    C. By explaining statistical data.

   D. By providing research results.

   Any car accident is frightening, but an accident in which your vehicle is thrown into the water, with you trapped inside, is absolutely terrifying.  36    However, most deaths result from panic, without a plan or understanding what is happening to the car in the water. By adopting a brace(支撑) position, acting decisively and getting out fast, you can save yourself from a sinking vehicle.

Brace yourself for impact (撞击力). As soon as you're aware that you're going off the road and into a body of water, adopt a brace position. The impact could set off the airbag system in your vehicle, so you should place both hands on the steering wheel in the "ten and two" position.

Undo your seatbelt.   37   Unbuckle the children, starting with the oldest first. Forget the cell phone call. Your car isn't going to wait for you to make the call.

  38   Leave the door alone at this stage and concentrate on the window. A car's electrical system should work for up to three minutes in water, so try the method of opening it electronically first. Many people don't think about the window as an escape option either because of panic or misinformation about doors and sinking.

Break the window. If you aren't able to open the window, or it only opens halfway, you'll need to break it with an object or your foot. It may feel counter-intuitive (有悖常理的) to let water into the car.   39 

Escape when the car has equalized. If it has reached the dramatic stage where the car cabin has been filled with water and it has become balanced, you must move quickly and effectively to ensure your survival.   40   While there is still air in the car, take slow, deep breaths and focus on what you're doing.

A. Open the window as soon as you hit the water.

B. Surviving a sinking car is not as difficult as you think.

C. It takes 60 to 120 seconds for a car to fill up with water usually.

D. Such accidents are particularly dangerous to the risk of drowning.

E. In conclusion, if you know what to do in the water, you will be safe.

F. This is the first thing to attend to, yet it often gets forgotten in the panic.

G. But the sooner the window is open, the sooner you can escape directly through it.