A

　　A new age is coming. Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society. It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work. Already we’re partly there, the percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World. Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise. More women are in the work force than ever before. There are more part-time jobs. More people are self-employed. But the range of the economic transformation can’t be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to important new way of thinking about the nature of work itself. Long-held ideas about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers — all these are being challenged.

　　We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead. No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip, would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots. Tomorrow’s achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes. But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more valid, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth. Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write. The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else. If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information service will be superior. It will be the way you do your job.

　　66. A characteristic of the new age mentioned in the passage is that

　　.

　　A. the service industry mainly relies on females

　　B. manufacturing industries are steadily increasing

　　C. more people are in the service industry than before

　　D. the work in the service industry is more comfortable than that in manufacturing industry

　　67. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　　A. People’s traditional concepts about jobs need changing.

　　B. The relation between employees and employers is becoming tense.

　　C. More women than men are in the work force.

　　D. Part-time jobs are more welcome than full-time jobs.

　　68. By mentioning the invention of “the chip”, the author means to say that

　　.

　　A. we haven’t paid enough attention to the importance of high technology

　　B. the chip is the most important invention today

　　C. the power of science and technology is beyond our imagination

　　D. it’s a great challenge to apply new inventions to our life

　　69. We may draw a conclusion from the passage that

　　.

　　A. information will play a greater role in people’s work and daily life in the future

　　B. we can foresee the future if technology develops fast enough

　　C. the ability of performing routine tasks gives you an advantage in work

　　D. robots will replace people to do all the work both in manufacturing and service industries

　　70. The author’s attitude to the coming age is

　　.

　　A. doubtful

　　B. enthusiastic

　　C. satisfied

　　D. uncertain

　　B

　　（2024安徽卷）

　　Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of

　　a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons for example, economic (經濟的) reasons-why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

　　In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影響) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

　　It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破壞) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.

　　Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves . Thus , I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.

　　What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?

　　Some of them are not attractive.

　　Most of them ate too expensive to preserve.

　　They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

　　They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

　　Which of the following is true according to the author ?

　　We should reproduce the same old buildings.

　　Buildings should not dominate their surroundings.

　　Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.

　　No one understands why people speak against new buildings.

　　By “move things forward ” in the last paragraph , the author probably means“

　　”

　　Destroy old buildings

　　Put things in a different place

　　Choose new architectural styles

　　Respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

　　What is the main purpose of the passage?

　　To explain why people dislike change.

　　To warn that we could end up living in caves.

　　To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

　　To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

　　C

　　Britain’s seed bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet’s wild plant species, has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010.

　　The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens—one of the oldest botanical gardens—will officially deposit the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China.

　　More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe, including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said.

　　The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds. Its goal is to help protect the planet’s bio-diversity during a time of climate change.

　　The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction(滅絕) in southwest China from agricultural development. It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human consumption.

　　Stored at minus-20 degrees centigrade, so they can last for thousands of years, the seeds await the day that scientists hope never comes—when the species no longer exist in the wild.

　　It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last decade alone, 20 plants held in the bank have already been wiped out in the wild. He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct this century.

　　"It is urgent and it is happening now. An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation（植被）every year." Smith said.

　　Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is quite important, scientists say. There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity.

　　For Kew's next goal—to collect a quarter of wild varieties by 2024—the botanists need 10 million pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted.

　　56. What’s the final purpose of the Britain’s seed bank?

　　A. To collect enough money for the project.

　　B. To safeguard food crops.

　　C. To protect wild plants from extinction.

　　D. To help scientists study wild plants.

　　57. The wild banana seed in China is in danger because of _______.

　　A. the expanding of farming work

　　B. the climate change in this area

　　C. the large number of Asian elephants

　　D. human’s large consumption

　　58. We can learn from the passage that _______.

　　A. the seeds in the bank can be used now and then all over the world

　　B. India and Brazil haven’t joined in the Seed Bank Project at present

　　C. there is only one seed bank in the world at present

　　D. the wild plants in places like India and China will never die out

　　59. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 7 refer to?

　　A. The extinction of plant species.

　　B. The Millennium Seed Bank Project.

　　C. Britain’s seed bank.

　　D. Kew Gardens’ next goal.

　　60. Which of the following information isn’t mentioned in the passage?

　　A. The global partnership of collecting wild plant species.

　　B. The temperature condition of the conservative wild plant species.

　　C. The government’s financial support for the seed bank project.

　　D. Scientists’ concern on the extinct wild plant species.

　　D

　　One of the major problems in our economy is inflation, a situation in which prices are going up faster than wages. Thus, a person has to work more hours to pay for the same thing.

　　For example, let’s say that this year a loaf of bread costs $1.00 and the average salary in the United States is $10.00 per hour. That means a person could earn enough money to buy a loaf of bread in one-tenth of an hour, or six minutes, Then, halfway through the year, The price of bread goes up to $1.25, while wages stay the same. That means that a person how has to work one-eighth of an hour, or seven and a half minutes to buy the same loaf of bread.

　　Now let’s say that at the end of the year, wages go up to$11.00 per hour, but the price of bread goes up to $1.50. Now a person has to work more than one-seventh of an hour, over eight minutes to but the same loaf of bread. As you can see, if more and more work time is spent earning money to buy loaves of bread, employees will have less money left over to buy other things Inflation means that the same money buys fewer things and everybody’s standard of living goes down, even if salaries are going up.

　　Some kinds of inflation are worse than others, Moderate inflation does not distort（扭曲）relative prices or incomes seriously, Galloping inflation happens rapidly, say at a rate of 100 percent or more within a year. And then there is hyperinflation－inflation so serious that people try to get rid of their currency before prices rise further and make the money worthless. Times of hyperinflation are usually characterized by social and political disorder.

　　1．The passage mainly wants to

　　.

　　A．list major economic problems B．discuss something about inflation

　　C．explain why bread prices increase D．state the types of inflation

　　2．Why is“a loaf of bread”repeatedly mentioned?

　　A．To express dissatisfaction with the price of bread.

　　B．To show the effect of price changes.

　　C．To compare bread with other food.

　　D．To explain social and political disorder.

　　3．What happens when prices go up but salaries remain the same?

　　A．The government will do more about the economy.

　　B．Workers might lose their jobs of they show dissatisfaction.

　　C．People will save money rather than spend it.

　　D．People must work longer to buy the same things.

　　4．Which of the followings belongs to the type of moderate inflation?

　　A．People try to get rid of their currency.

　　B．Inflation occurs at rate of 100 percent in a year

　　C．Incomes and relative prices rise slightly.

　　D．There is social and political disorder.

　　A

　　66—70 CACAB

　　B

　　【考點】考察文化類閱讀

　　【文章大意】是否可以在歷史遺跡的地方建設現代化的建筑？文章對此問題進行了討論，作者如果在不破壞原來情況的基礎上我們是可以這樣做的，因為很多現代建筑能夠提升城市的品味。

　　68. 【答案】A

　　【試題解析】細節題。根據文章第一段第三句Not all historical buildings are attractive.可知作者認為并不是所有的古代建筑都是很吸引人的。故A正確。

　　69. 【答案】C

　　【試題解析】推理題。根據文章第三段第一句It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破壞) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too.可知一些新的建筑會毀掉他們所在的地區，同樣一些舊建筑也會毀掉他們所在的地區。故C正確。

　　70. 【答案】C

　　【試題解析】推理題。根據橫線下一句If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves .如果我們總是重復建設以前的建筑風格，那么我們就會讓人生活在洞穴里。可知I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward .中建筑師的責任就是向前發展，也就是說要開發出新的建筑風格，不走老路。故C正確。

　　71. 【答案】D

　　【試題解析】推理題。根據文章第一句Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of

　　a city?可知本文是一個討論：是否可以在歷史遺跡的地方建設現代化的建筑。故D項正確。

　　【長難句解析】

　　In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area.

　　【翻譯】為了回答這個問題，我們必須首先檢查人們十分真地項保護歷史遺跡。

　　【分析】本句中的in order to answer this question在句中充當的是目的狀語，相當于不定式to answer this question；另外句中動詞examine后面有一個whether引導的賓語從句whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area.連接詞whether在句中不充當任何成分，表示的是不確定的“是否”的意思。

　　56—60 CABBC

　　D

　　參考答案1-4

　　B B D C