B

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across Americas farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. M errigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.

Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No.1 on a list of “useless” college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.

“There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect,” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture. In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050,” she said.

“I truly believe we’re at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture.”

The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.

Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes his message-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations ( 创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “there’s really a place for everybody to fit in.”

25.  What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

A. Fewer and older farmers.           B. Higher fuel prices.

C. More natural disasters. D. Lower agricultural output.

26.  Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

A. To draw federal agriculture officials' attention.

B. To select qualified agriculture graduates.

C. To clarify a recent blog posting.

D. To talk more students into farming careers.

27.  According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because ________.

A. the government will cover production costs

B. global food supplies will be even lower

C. investment in agriculture will be profitable

D. America will increase its food export

28.  What do the underlined words "to turn around the statistics" in the last paragraph mean?

A. To re-analyze the result of the national census.

B. To increase agricultural production.

C. To bring down the average age of farmers.

D. To invest more in agriculture.

C

What brings a nation together? Of the four choices — shared values, language, history, and religion, it’s shared values. In our latest poll (民意调査), seven out of 16 countries chose values as the greatest factor (因索)bringing a nation together, and six preferred language. Both choices scored high in the poll, suggesting that our values and how we express them are closely linked. Still, history was not forgotten in some countries, particularly in Mexico and Russia. Even Canada and the United States chose national histories as the second-most important factor uniting their people. The biggest surprise? Not one country picked religion as its top choice.

Respect your elders

In most countries, the oldest generation considered values more important to a nation than those who are under 45 years old.

Do you speak Canadian?

Language scored lower in Canada than in all other countries polled, perhaps because the country speaks two official languages, French and English.

Church and state

Most people polled do not connect their religious beliefs to their national pride. Religion ranked last in 13 countries — with France scoring it at 1%, the lowest of all.

29.  According to the poll, what was the most important factor in bringing a nation together?

A. Language.        B. Values.         C. History.         D. Religion.

30.  In which country did language score the lowest in their national pride?

A. Canada.          B. Mexico .        C. France.         D. America.

31.  According to the charts, shared values and language were considered  equally important in ________.

A. Australia          B. Brazil         C. China           D. India

D

You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don’t let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred(神圣的)moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others---and even themselves---to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.

In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

32.  According to Paragraph 2, creators ________.

A. seem willing to experience failures in life

B. possess the ability to predict future life

C. handle ups and downs of life wisely

D. have potential to create something new

33.  What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A. Creators and victims face quite different things in life.

B. Creators and victims are masters of their lives.

C. Victims can influence more people than creators.

D. Compared with victims, creators are more emotional.

34.  The examples mentioned in Paragraph 4 show that ________.

A. strong attachment to sufferings in life pulls people into victims.

B. people need family support to deal with challengers in life.

C. it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains.

D. one’s experiences determine his attitude toward life.

35.  What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A. To introduce what victims are suffering.

B. To protect victims against creators.

C. To explain the relationship between victims and creators.

D. To suggest the transformation from victims to creators.

第二节( 共5小题，每小题2分， 满分10分)

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。，选项中有两项为多余选项。

How to preven t nearsightedness

Myopia(近视), or nearsightedness, can be a severe inconvenience and may even cause big troubles when we operate cars or heavy machinery. Here are some tips that may help you to prevent myopia.

36    Whether it’s for the love of books or because you are studying for a test that just happens to take place tomorrow, don’t overdo it. This means either getting away from a page-turner(引人入胜的书) or starting your studies a few days earlier. If prolonged(持续很久的)reading can’t be avoided, try taking regular breaks to rest your eyes or take a nap.

Consume lots of eye-protecting vitamins.   37    It’s very meaningful to get ki ds to eat this healthy orange vegetable, which is rich in vitamins. Still, good doses (剂量) of multi-vitamins will improve not only your eyesight but your health in general.

Do your reading or focusing in well-lit room. Weak light may cause damage to your eyes and result in the need for glasses.   38    Buy a reading light or just turn on a bright lamp.

Be mindful of the distance between your eyes and the object you’re focusing on.   39    It will also cause your head to ache and may dry out your eyes.

40    Early detection of nearsightedness can lead to quick treatment and less serious symptoms.

A. Try not to read for long lengths of time.

B. You should also eat a lot of other green vegetables.

C. Talk to an eye care doctor at the first signs of eye trouble.

D. Of course the first choice that comes to mind is the carrot.

E. It will also give you a headache and cause you to become tired.

F. Encourage more outdoor activities, such as running, cycling and playing tennis.

G. Whether it’s a book or the television, being too close is going to bother your eyes.

第三部分：英语知识运用(共三节，满分55分)

第一节：完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分，满分30分)

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A，B，C和D)中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

I truly feel that my mother led me here, to Morzaine, and to my future as a happy wife and business woman. When Mum   41   in October 2007, I was a cook. In December that year, while I was working for a wedding, a pearl necklace Mum had left me   42  . I was distraught(忧心如焚的). Some days later, I was   43   that a guy, who was working with us that day, could probably have made a fortune by  44   the necklace he found.   45   , he returned it. Hearing how I’d   46   Mum for six months before her death, he said, “This Christmas is going to be   47   for you—why not go out to the Alps for a couple of weeks?”

I came to Morzaine, a small, friendly village in the Alps and   48   fell in love with it. What was   49   to be a stopgap (权宜之计) trip turned into a new life. I kept travelling between London and here and felt   50   than I had in months. In December 2008, I was   51   as a hotel manager and moved here full time.

A month later, I met Paul, who was traveling here. We fell in love. In the beginning, I didn’t want to discuss   52  , because the sadness of losing Mum   53   felt great. Paul understood that and never   54   me. But, by summer, we got married. A year later, we used his saving, and the money from the sale of Mom’s house, to build our own   55  .

We want to give our guests a   56   feel, so each room is themed (以……为题) around memories from our lives. There are also styles to remind me of Mom ---- a tiny chair which   57   be in her bedroom is set in one room.

We are having a wonderful life and Mum   58   naturally part of it,   59   there’s no way we would be here if it wasn’t for the   60   she gave me. I know she’s here in spirit, keeping an eye on us.

41. A. died           B. came             C. returned           D. visited

42. A. burned     B. disappeared      C. broke              D. dropped

43. A. shown       B. comforted         C. persuaded         D. told

44. A. hiding          B. stealing          C. selling            D. wearing

45. A. Luckily         B. Naturally        C. Surely            D. Hopefully

46. A. nursed      B. cured           C. missed            D. guarded

47. A. long           B. hard          C. merry             D. free

48. A. suddenly       B. finally        C. nearly            D. immediately

49. A. said            B. proved         C. supposed          D. judged

50. A. smarter         B. higher         C. firmer            D. lighter

51. A. honored       B. hired          C. regarded          D. trained

52. A. travel         B. business       C. children          D. marriage

53. A. recently        B. once           C. still              D. first

54. A. left            B. pushed         C. surprised          D. interrupted

55. A. hotel            B. restaurant     C. home             D. shop

56. A. homely         B. lively         C. motherly        D. friendly

57. A. ought to        B. used to        C. might             D. could

58. A. takes          B. keeps          C. sounds            D. feels

59. A. unless          B. while          C. because           D. though

60. A. money         B. chair          C. house             D. necklace

第二节：语法填空 (共10小题;每小题1.5分，满分15分)

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入合适的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

It was a very cold evening, an old man was waiting for a ride across the river. He saw several horsemen pass by but he didn’t ask for any help. The wait seemed  61  (end).Then came another rider，the old man   62  (catch) his eye and said, “Sir, would you mind doing me a favor?”

Stopping his horse，he replied, “Of course.” Almost  63  (freeze), the old man could not get  64  the ground. The horseman helped him onto his horse. He took the old man not just across the river，65  to his home.

“Sir, you didn’t even ask the other riders for help, why? What  66  I had  said ‘no’ and left you there?” the horseman asked.

The old man looked at him straight in the eyes and said, “I looked into their eyes, I found they didn’t care， 67  told me it would be useless, but when I looked into  68  , I saw kindness.”

These words touched the rider deeply. “Thank you for  69   you’ve said, I hope I will never be too busy to help others.” with that, Thomas Jefferson, the  70  (three) president of the US, turned his horse around and went away.

第三节: 单词短语(共10小题;每个1分，满分10分)

单词拼写(答案写出正确形式的完整单词)

71. __________(遭受)from headaches is a tiring thing.

72. We are __________(感激的) to you for your timely help.

73. As a doctor, he has a good __________(声誉)and is respected by his patients.

74. When he heard the terrible words, he _______(惊慌)and ran away quickly.

75. Those who break the law will be punished and there is no _________(例外).

短语填空 (答案写出正确形式的完整短语)

76. Where you live can ___________(对……起作用)to the way you feel.

77. Don’t trust him because his biography may not be true. He _______(编造)most of the stories.

78. The public are ___________________(支持，赞成) the new plan of the government.

79. But now they seem to __________(把……想的理所当然)that they can show up at any time they like.

80. The product was developed ________ (对……做出回应) customer’s demand.

第 II 卷

第四部分：写作(共两节，满分35分)

第一节：短文改错(共10小题;每小题1分，满分10分)

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线()划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出改正后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;

2. 只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

A  few months later returning to the U. S. from Germany, I took part in a college course in French. Since I have learned to speak German well in Germany, I thought it might be interested to begin studying another language. In the first class the teacher asked us to do a pronunciation exercise in it he would say one or two word in French. Then each student would try to copy. When it got to mine, he kept having me to say more words, and I finally asked him why. “I find it a great fun,” he explained. “In 25 years of teaching at school, it's  the first time that I heard an American speak French by a German accent.”

第二节：书面表达(满分25分)

假如你是李华，你的英国朋友Tom已经学汉语三年， 你给他写封一电子邮件向他推荐一部中国电影。具体要求如下：

1. 写信目的。

2. 推荐理由(语言及文化方面)

3. 期盼对方看电影并回复。

注意：

1. 字数100左右。

2. 信的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总字数。

参考词汇： 推荐recommend

Dear Tom,

How is everything going?______________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua