A curious election will take place in St. Louis on April 3rd. Seven candidates will compete for two seats on the city’s school board. The polls will open at 6 am and stay open until 7 pm. Staffing the polling stations and counting the electronic ballots will cost taxpayers an estimated $130,000. Two happy candidates will celebrate and take office—just in time to have the state of Missouri complete the takeover of the district’s schools and give them and the other board members nothing to do for several years. This election to nothing comes after years of falling test scores, revolving superintendents, screaming matches between board members at public meetings and a growing dissatisfaction with every aspect of public education. The state board of education voted on March 22nd to take over the school district, effective in mid-June. Some prominent figures endorsed this course, including the mayor of St. Louis, Francis Slay, and even some members of the St. Louis school board. Others in the city, though, are deeply opposed and ready to fight about it. Although the city schools overall have an amply deserved reputation for low standards, there are some good schools and many good students. The best students have the most to lose, fearing that the turmoil could damage their chances of getting into good universities. In mid-March a group of high-school pupils, backed by their superintendent, Diana Bourisaw, occupied Mr. Slay’s office for five days. When the state education board voted on the takeover, a group of angry students, teachers and other members of the public tried to disrupt the meeting. Protesters are still trying to use the courts to stop the action, and the teachers’ union has threatened a strike. Under Missouri law the city’s schools will now be placed under a three-member board appointed by the governor, the mayor and the president of the board of aldermen. Governor Matt Blunt’s choice of Rick Sullivan, the head of a building firm, has already been attacked because of Mr. Sullivan’s lack of experience in education and because he lives in one of the wealthiest suburbs outside the city. Blacks say their political power has been diluted. Mr. Sullivan and the other members, who have yet to be appointed, have an almost impossible task before them. The district, which in the past five years has turned a $52 million surplus into a $24.5 million deficit, has already closed schools, cut services and squeezed spending hard. But as its critics point out, the elected school board still found plenty of money for junkets and public relations. The trickle of voters turning out for the pointless board election will pass banners celebrating the new season of the world baseball champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis has made huge progress in attracting a new generation of young professionals to its downtown area, building new business developments and installing new infrastructure. The fiasco in its schools puts all that in jeopardy.

1. The Teddy bear cost 20 dollars, but I managed to knock off 25% as it was no longer new. 2. I used wood polish on everything, including the windows, because I thought it smelled like home where a mother lived. 3. If I were in your shoes, he would soon know what I thought of him. 4. Try hard as he will, he never seems able to do the work satisfactorily. 5. I thought about telling the truth, however, I didn’t think anyone would care. I spent 20 dollars for the Teddy bear. I spent 25 dollars for the Teddy bear. I spent 15 dollars for the Teddy bear. I spent 10 dollars for the Teddy bear.

Hi, I’m George Boros. Have you always wanted to invest, but didn’t know where to get started? We’re here today to present you with three basic guidelines to smart investing for you future. No. 1 is to have clear goals. Decide how many years you will invest for, and what your needs will be in the future. No. 2 is to understand the range of possibilities. You’ll want a diversified portfolio: one with a mix of stocks, mutual funds, bonds and cash. It’s a jungle out there. Each of these products has different risks associated with them and also different potential rewards. Understand them before you buy, so there won’t be any big surprises later. Finally, No. 3 is to have realistic expectations. As our friend Leonardo da Vinci said in the year 1500, “He who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year.“ Over the past several years, New York stocks have averaged 30% annual returns, but don’t count on this continuing. While it’s true that since the year 1900, stocks have averaged an 11% annual return, it’s a roller-coaster ride with many minus years as well, so you have to stay in for the long term—you have to weather the storm—and not be too greedy. Well, let’s get started and happy hunting! For FNN, this is George Boros reporting. 15. What’s the first guideline to investing according to the speaker? 16. What is a “diversified portfolio“ of investments according to Mr. Boros? 17. What’s the third guideline to investing? 18. Which of the following statements is not true? To develop a savings plan. To set up a bank account. To set clear investing goals. To decide on the type of business for investment.

(1)10 percent of all clothing, accessories and footwear sales are expected to occur online this year, up from 8 percent last year. (2)Brighter children tend to behave in a healthier fashion as adults—they’re less likely to smoke, less likely to be overweight, less likely to have high blood pressure and more likely to take exercise. (3)As capital was withdrawn from the region and the exchange rates of the five countries depreciated, or fell, panic set in amongst foreign creditors. (4)A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if pay for all her work, an amount similar to a top US ad executive. (5)Beijing is planning to build the world’s biggest subway and dramatically expand its bus network as part of efforts to combat the city’s fast-increasing traffic jam.

Google’s share price reached an all-time high Tuesday at $518.84 with the announcement of a new partnership with marketing software maker Salesforce. com. Google, the #1 search engine, seems to defy every Internet law of gravity. But one question arises with each subsequent record-high share price: is it possible for Google to get any bigger? According to Hitwise, for the four weeks ending June 2, 2007, Google accounted for 64. 8% of all executed searches in the U. S., triple that of its nearest competitor Yahoo! Search, which achieved 21. 7% of all searches in that same time period. Tech pundits have long theorized that there must be a saturation point for Google’s role in our quest to find information on the Internet. We just don’t have a clue as to where that point may be. We’ve pondered the possibility of slips in dominance with the release of a new competitive offering, but that hasn’t happened. We wondered if integration of MSN’s search offering with the new Vista operating system would affect Google’s share of search—not really. Google’s role in our Internet use has become ubiquitous. Google, in its transition from a noun to a verb, has become more than a tool to find information online, it’s quickly becoming the default tool to navigate the web, replacing the browser URL bar as the way to move from one website to the next. How do we know this? The secret to Google’s primary use can be found in the top searches that people enter on the site. The #1 term, representing over 4% of all US searches on Google, is for the site that surpassed Google last summer to become the most popular domain on the Internet, “MySpace“. In fact 17 of the top 20 searches on Google are searches for the other leading Internet sites such as “ebay“, “yahoo“, and “mapquest“. The most puzzling search term that Internet users enter into a Google searchbox is the 14th most popular term: “Google“.(In case you’re keeping count, the three most popular terms that are not websites are: porn, free porn and lyrics.) However, for all of its success, Google’s online dominance has been limited to search. In web-based e-mail, for example, Google’s service, Gmail, is in a distant fifth place to leader Yahoo! Mail, which is over 12 times the size of Gmail in terms of visits. Google has barely made a peep in social networking: MySpace, the #1 social networking site, is over 300 times the size of Google’s Orkut service. Even mainstream information such as Google Finance is an order of magnitude smaller in visits than the industry leader in financial information Yahoo! Finance. Google’s most promising growth strategy may be in acquiring industry leading sites versus building a homegrown solution. Take the October 2006 acquisition of YouTube—only $1. 65 billion and you’ve instantly become the industry leader in online video sharing. The combined offering of YouTube and Google Video represents over 51 % of all multimedia visits in the US. With deep coffers and the expansion of its primary search business showing no signs of slowing, there really is no telling how big Google can become. In researching this column I tried googling the question, ironically the results weren’t of much help.

The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is taken for granted today—summed up, not altogether accurately, as “research and development“. Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most. Even in this current era of large scale, intensive research and development, the interrelationships involved in this process are frequently misunderstood. Until the coming of the Industrial Revolution, science and technology evolved for the most part independently of each other. Then as industrialization became increasingly complicated, the craft techniques of preindustrial society gradually gave way to a technology based on the systematic application of scientific knowledge and scientific methods. This changeover started slowly and progressed unevenly. Until late in the nineteenth century, only a few industries could use scientific techniques or cared about using them. The list expanded noticeably after 1870, but even then much of what passed for the application of science was “engineering science“ rather than basic science. Nevertheless, by the middle of the nineteenth century, the rapid expansion of scientific knowledge and of public awareness—if not understanding—of it had created a belief that the advance of science would in some unspecified manner automatically generate economic benefits. The widespread and usually uncritical acceptance of this thesis led in turn to the assumption that the application of science to industrial purposes was a linear process, starting with fundamental science, then proceeding to applied science or technology, and through them to industrial use. This is probably the most common pattern, but it is not invariable. New areas of science have been opened up and fundamental discoveries made as a result of attempts to solve a specific technical or economic problem. Conversely, scientists who mainly do basic research also serve as consultants on projects that apply research in practical ways. In sum, the science-technology-industry relationship may flow in several different ways, and the particular channel it will follow depends on the individual situation. It may at times even be multidirectional.

Education 【C1】______in the modernization of our country. There are, however, still 【C2】______children in remote rural areas who 【C3】______go to school because of【C4】______. This is a very serious problem which【C5】______. Therefore, the authorities【C6】______to help them financially, which is called “【C7】______“. This project, I believe, 【C8】______. In the first place, as a developing country, China is【C9】______a huge amount of money in education in the【C10】______. So education has to【C11】______the general public to 【C12】______. Secondly, with the financial 【C13】______of the public, many of the poor children who【C14】______school can go on with their study. This will, in turn,【C15】______the expansion of the rural economy in【C16】______. Clearly, Project Hope has【C17】______for the modernization of our country.【C18】______, my suggestion is that the government【C19】______the public in cities to finance the project. And I am sure the project will be【C20】______.Education plays a very important role in the modernization of our country. There are, however, still a large number of children in remote rural areas who can’t afford to go to school because of financial difficulties. This is a very serious problem which needs to be solved. Therefore, the authorities have worked out a plan to help them financially, which is called “Project Hope“. This project, I believe, is of great necessity. In the first place, as a developing country, China is not likely to invest a huge amount of money in education in the near future. So education has to turn to the general public to find its way out. Secondly, with the financial assistance of the public, many of the poor children who have dropped out of school can go on with their study. This will, in turn, contribute a great deal to the expansion of the rural economy in our remote areas. Clearly, Project Hope has profound significance for the modernization of our country. As far as I am concerned, my suggestion is that the government should encourage more of the public in cities to finance the project. And I am sure the project will be fruitful and successful.

W: Hi, Professor Peterson. M: Hi, Amy. What can I do for you? W: Remember I e-mailed you about getting the handouts from the class I missed the other day, and you said I could stop by and pick them up today? M: Oh, that’s right. You know that’s the fourth class you’ve missed this semester. W: Sorry, but I had the flu. That’ll be the last class I miss, though. I promise. M: How are you feeling now? W: Much better than a few days ago. M: That’s good. Oh, the handouts. They’re pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions, just send me an e-mail. W: Thank you. M: Uh, but we also watched a video, and we’ll be having an essay question about it on the next exam, so, do you have a VCR at home? W: Yes. M: Okay... Well, I can lend it to you, but you’d have to watch it tonight and get it back to me early tomorrow, because I’m going to use it tomorrow afternoon. W: That’d be great. M: Okay... How about if we do it this way. I’ll keep it for now and show it in my class tomorrow, and then you can drop by here and pick it up on Friday morning and keep it for the whole weekend and just bring it when you come to class next week. Then you’ll have a couple of days to watch it, and you won’t have to worry about getting it back here tomorrow. W: Great. I’ll see you then. 19. Why does the woman go to see her professor? 20. Why does the professor change his mind about when to lend the woman the video? 21. Why will the woman stop by the professor’s office on Friday morning? 22. What can be inferred about the professor? To get materials for a class she missed. To discuss an assignment she is working on. To ask a question about a video her class recently watched. To inform the professor of changes in her schedule.

W: Mr. Smith, is the number of complaints increasing or decreasing? M: There was a slight decrease last year. The highest number of complaints was two years ago when we received 7,300. W: Does the reduction mean that the quality of goods and services is improving? M: I don’t think so. It’s probably due to the poor economic situation. Most people are simply buying less. W: Is there any change in the nature of the complaints? M: Not really. People are still complaining about the same things. W: What do they complain about most often? M: Electrical appliances. Last year, we received 1,809 complaints about them—25% of all complaints. Then there are complaints about travel agencies, photographic and sound equipment, and clothing—in that order. W: What sort of complaints do you get about travel agencies? M: Oh, they include anything from air tickets to accommodation. W: Are most of the complaints justified? M: About 90% of the complaints about travel agencies are justified. In other areas, investigation of about 50% of the complaints reveals some kind of business malpractice, but overall about 30% of the complaints are due to misunderstandings on the part of the consumer: the rest are too vague to be worth following up. W: How long does it take you to complete an investigation of a complaint? M: About 2 to 3 weeks for a proper investigation. We really need more staff. W: Thank you, Mr. Smith. M: My pleasure. 27. Which of the following is the closest to the record number of consumer complaints? 28. Which has the most complaints of all? 29. In general, what’s the proportion of complaints that cannot be investigated? 30. How long do most complaints take to investigate? 2,000. 4,000. 6,000. 7,000.

Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered the human skeleton of what they conclude is the earliest known gunshot victim in the New World. Digging in an Inca cemetery in the suburbs of Lima, they came on well-preserved remains of an individual with holes less than an inch in diameter in the back and front of the skull. Forensic scientists in Connecticut said the position of the round holes and some minuscule iron particles showed that the person most likely was shot and killed by a Spanish musket ball. Ceramics and other artifacts in the 72 examined graves established the approximate time of the burials, archaeologists said, and this indicated that these were casualties of combat between Inca warriors and Spanish invaders, who seized the Andean empire in 1532. Spanish chronicles describe a pitched battle, a last stand of the Incas that was fought in the vicinity in 1536. Conquistadors were equipped with some of the first effective firearms, which had been developed recently in Europe, military historians said. The National Geographic Society announced yesterday the discovery of the gunshot victim by the independent Peruvian archaeologists Guillermo Cock and Elena Goycochea, who have conducted research at the Puruchuco cemetery for years. A NOVA-National Geographic television program on the research is scheduled for next Tuesday. In a telephone interview Monday, Dr. Cock said that at least 35 of the excavated skeletons bore evidence of violent injuries: cheekbones crushed by heavy blows, broken hands and limbs, a smashed chest. Some had presumably fallen in hand-to-hand combat or been trampled by Spanish horses, another instrument of warfare new to the Americas. No similar evidence of a death by gunshot this early has been found elsewhere in the Americas, Dr. Cock said. The musket shot appeared to have entered the back of the man’s skull, punching a piece of bone from outside to inside, and emerged through the face. “The individual may have been escaping from the Europeans,“ the archaeologist said. These particular graves attracted the attention of the excavators because they were shallow and the bodies appeared to have been interred hastily. They were not ritually wrapped in shrouds and placed in a crouched position facing northeast, as was customary in Inca burials. Forensic experts at the University of New Haven, in Connecticut, confirmed the violent nature of the deaths. Albert B. Harper, executive director of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the university, said, “We tried to rule out all kinds of causes of the hole—a rock from a slingshot, spear, sledgehammer. “ An examination of the skull with a scanning electron microscope detected the otherwise invisible iron traces, Dr. Harper said, sealing the verdict of death by a musket ball fired from a range of perhaps 100 feet.

Bust a Myth, Get a Benefit Few subjects harbor more myths and misconceptions than nutrition. Some of the most common: “Low-fat“ means “healthy“. Low-fat foods can be healthy, but not always. The problem? Many processed foods that are low in fat are high in sugar, which gives you extra calories and may cause wide swings in your blood sugar levels. This makes you gain weight and lose energy, and may raise your risk of several diseases. Some people believe “low-fat“ means “Eat all you want“. I remember a dieting patient who was puzzled because he was gaining weight. He mentioned he was eating a low-fat cake. When I asked him how much, he replied, “Oh, one or two. “ “One or two pieces?“ “No, one or two cakes!“ An ideal diet is low in fat and low in sugar. Most people can enjoy high-sugar, high-fat treats on occasion, but if you indulge one day, be sure to eat healthier the next. Canned fruits and vegetables aren’t nutritious. They can be. A recent review of studies found that nutrients are generally similar in comparable fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Many parents have told me that, knowing this, they might be more likely to cook at home rather than eat less nutritious meals at restaurants. Red wine, not white, prevents heart disease. Yes, drinking red wine may significantly decrease the risk of heart disease, but white wine may be just as protective, at least in rats. Resveratrol is a healthy substance found in the skin of red grapes. It’s higher in concentration in red wine than white because red wine is fermented with the skins, allowing it to absorb the resveratrol. American and Italian researchers recently found that grape pulp extract(white wine)was equally effective in protecting rats from a heart attack as grape skin extract(red wine). Also, most of the antioxidant benefits of wine come from the grape itself, not the fact that it’s fermented. Studies show that spending time with friends and family may reduce the risk of many illnesses. People who imbibe moderately often do so in the company of others, and these psychosocial factors may be as powerful as the drink itself. I neither prescribe nor proscribe alcohol, but if you’re going to drink, have no more than one or two four-ounce glasses of wine, one or two beers, or one or two ounces of liquor. More than that, and the toxicities of alcohol begin to outweigh any of its potential benefits. Juice is less healthy than whole fruits. Not always. “The view that pure fruit and vegetable juices are nutritionally inferior to fruits and vegetables, in relation to chronic-disease risk reduction, is unjustified,“ concluded a recent review of studies. The impact of antioxidants on disease risk may be more important than the amount of fiber. Whole fruits and vegetables do have more fiber than most juices, and fiber has many benefits. It fills you up before you get too many calories, and it helps regulate blood sugar. Some juice companies are preserving the pulp(which adds to the fiber)or are even putting it back in. Summer Diet Traps. It’s the season for travel, day trips and meals on the run, and it’s easier than ever to eat healthy on the road. At airports, look for fresh fruit and packaged salads. Dip your fork in the dressing instead of pouring it on. Amusement parks are providing healthier choices. Disney will eliminate added trans fats from its parks by the end of this year, and kids’ meals will include sides like applesauce and carrots—not fries. Some fast-food places offer better choices, too, so you can eat well just about anywhere.

June 15, 2007—Poor dad. He just can’t get any respect. Many of us throw money around on Mother’s Day like a starlet on a shopping spree at Barney’s. But Father’s Day? Forget about it. He’s lucky to get a piece of paper with “Hallmark“ stamped on the back. In a recent survey by the National Retail Federation(NRF), Americans spent $16 billion on Mother’s Day this year, but only plan on spending $9. 9 billion on Father’s Day, which falls on June 17. Fathers and Families Executive Director Don Hogan says the discrepancy is just more proof that dads are overworked and underappreciated. “It seems that society places a greater value on mothers than fathers,“ he says. “I think it’s because there really is a value placed on the role of nurturing and bringing up children and that role has been assigned to mothers. Although you’re seeing dads playing a greater and greater role, I don’t think it has been reflected in how society views fathers. “ So what exactly does dad get? Americans are expected to spend, on average, $98.34 this year on Father’s Day gifts, while they spent $139.14 on mom. Eighty-seven percent of Americans bought cards for mom, but only 69.9% plan on buying cards for dad. Thirty-nine percent bought gift certificates for mom, compared to 30% for dad, while 61% took mother out to dinner or brunch on Mother’s Day, but only 42.7% are taking father out. And I wonder how many dads actually pick up the bill for the meals supposedly in their honor? NRF Vice President for Public Relations Scott Krugman argues that this gift inequity is not because we love mom more. “I think there’re different sets of expectations,“ he says. “For both it’s really the thought that counts, but in mom’s case the thoughts tend to cost more. Dad’s satisfied with a quiet afternoon of barbequing and maybe a ballgame, but with mom I think there is an expectation for more than just a card, which leads to an evening out or jewelry or other gifts.“ So hey dad, at least you can be smug by claiming to take the moral high road: “I’m not greedy like your mother.“(But do us both a favor: keep this little thought to yourself. Mom never needs to know.)

Are organically grown foods the best food choices? The advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown and marketed food products are now being debated. Advocates of organic foods—a term whose meaning varies greatly—frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more nutritious than others. The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of the typical North American diet is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been sparked by sweeping claims that the food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs. Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, the preponderance of written material advancing such claims makes it difficult for the general public to separate fact from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting entirely of organically grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely publicized and form the basis for folklore.

6. Another thing recent grads struggle with is not having control over their schedules, which may mean giving up weekends and working late nights on short notice. 7. His ambiguous instructions misled us, therefore we didn’t know which road to take. 8. Although he is considered a great writer, his works are not widely read. 9. When it comes to decision-making, one should make a quick choice without looking back. 10. You ought to know better than to trust her again. After all, she has lied to you for so many times. Some recent grads have trouble controlling their work. It is always hard to avoid giving up weekends and working late nights. Recent grads notice that some people have to work late nights. What recent grads feel uncomfortable is to sacrifice their personal life.

W: Good afternoon! M: Good afternoon! I’ve come to report a car accident. There’s been an accident with our Buick. Here’s the policy. W: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. No one was hurt, I hope? M: No, but the car was badly damaged. W: When did it happen? M: Last night, on the highway in the suburbs. Will you send someone along to check up on it? W: Yes, of course. Would you please fill out the declaration form first? M: All right... By the way, we have bought another Buick. We want to have it insured against accidents as well. W: Very well. Is it a new one? M: Yes, brand new. W: How much did it cost you? M: 250,000 yuan. W: When did you get it? M: The day before yesterday. W: That’s May 8th. What’s the number of you license plate, please? M: It’s B-37793. W: Thank you. Show me the driver’s license, please. M: Here you are. W: Now here’s the contract. Please go over it, and then sign it, and also the duplicate. Will you put your signature here? M: Sure. W: Here’s your new insurance policy. 11. Where does the conversation probably take place? 12. When does the conversation take place? 13. What’s the number of the man’s license plate? 14. At the end of the conversation, what does the woman give the man? At a travel agency. At a car shop. At an insurance company. In the suburbs.

The economy of the United States after 1952 was the economy of a well-fed, almost fully employed people. Despite occasional alarms, the country escaped any postwar liquidation and lived in a state of boom. The history of extraction, production, and distribution had therefore been almost nothing but a statistical table reflecting prosperity. An economic survey of the 1955, typical of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the decade. The national output was estimated at 392 billion dollars, about 10 per cent above that of 1954. The production of manufacturers was about 40 per cent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War II. The country’s business spent about 30 billion dollars for new factories and machinery. National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been in 1950. 65 million people held jobs and only a little more than 2 million wanted jobs but could not find them. Only agriculture complained that it was not sharing in the boom. As farmer’s share of their products declined marketing cost rose. But there were a few pessimists among the observers of the national economy. They seemed to fear that the prosperity was based on government pump-priming on a great scale. 23. Which of the following words can best describe the economic situation of the United States after 1952? 24. In 1955, how much was the national output? 25. In 1955, which group was least satisfied with the national economy? 26. What aspect of the United States’ history is the passage mainly concerned with? Boom. Production. Distribution. Employment.

(1)China attaches importance to the development of long-term, stable and mutually-beneficial cooperative relations with the European Union and its members. Strengthened cooperation and dialogue between China and Europe serve the interests of both sides and help promote peace, stability and the common development in Asia and Europe. (2)Thank you very much, I appreciate the kind words of introduction. And we’re delighted to be here today. I am privileged to have the opportunity once again to travel in China. We are grateful for the welcome we have received, especially for the kind of reception here at Fudan University. We thank you for the honor, and we bring you good wishes from the people of the United States.

随着人类社会的不断发展，环境问题越来越突出地摆在世人面前，环境保护与可持续发展已成为当今各国发展的重要战略。作为环境法理论基石的公民环境权是公民的一项应有的基本人权。为保障公民的环境利益，顺应世界人权发展的潮流，有些国家已在宪法或专门的环境法中确立了公民环境权并进行较好的保护。我国虽然也有了环境立法和环境保护的实践，但并未以立法的形式明确承认公民环境权。而在现行的法律体制下，公民环境权得不到有效的救济，即使有限的救济和补偿，也难以弥补公民环境权益所遭受的侵害。

Why does the author say the election is “curious“(Para. 1)?

What does the word “endorse“(Para. 2)mean?

Why did a group of high-school pupils occupy Mr. Slay’s office for five days?

What is NOT a target of protesters?

What is the main idea of the passage?