C

  Many people may not believe it, but this is what is happening: polar bears are dying out! They are dying because they are losing a great deal of habitat due to human incursion（侵入）and global warming.  They are dying because of starvation as well.  With the sea ice they depend on for survival shrinking, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find food. 

  An ecosystem is highly dependent on all of its parts, and removing even a single species can result in serious consequences.  Polar bears are at the top of the predators（捕食性動(dòng)物）where they live.  They play an important part in the ecosystem.  They feed on seals, fish and deer.  Several other animals depend on the kill of polar bears.  The failure to save polar bears might result in loss of these predators. 

  In addition, all large predators perform a very important function in their habitat: helping to control the populations of other species.  When an animal group loses its natural predators, its population will rise rapidly, having a direct result in population decrease of other groups.  A huge boom in population of Arctic seals would have a direct effect on the prey(捕食) of seals, and could reduce numbers of certain types of fish. 

  This could also have a direct effect on humans, who might have to compete with Arctic seals for food supplies from fish.  Lack of polar bears could eventually affect human food supply.  Human beings shall save polar bears to ensure the food supply. 

  There is no doubt that we should save polar bears.  However, there is still another question: can they be saved? This is a matter that scientists debate because of rapid degradation（惡化）of the polar bear’ environment in recent years due to warming temperatures.  It is estimated that if the bears cannot adapt to changing climates, they might die out before the end of the 21st century, with about 50% of the animals disappearing by 2050.  So time is running out!

  There are some things that may help slow down global warming and help delay extinction of polar bears.  These include finding new energy sources that don’t give off greenhouse gases and not making any more incursions into polar bear’s territory. 

59.Which is NOT the threat to the survival of polar bears according to the passage?

   A.   Human’s killing. B.   Global warming.

   C.   Habitat loss. D.   Lack of food.

60.Why do we need to save polar bears?

   A.   For the predators in the ecosystem. B.   For the seals in Arctic Circle.

   C.   For our own source of food.   D.   For our environment.

61.If bears can’t adapt to changing climates, we will probably have lost    _____   by the middle of the 21st century.

   A.   half of polar bears    B.   most of polar bears   

C.   90% of polar bears    D.   all of polar bears

62.We can infer that   _____   .

A.   nothing can prevent the extinction of polar bears

   B.   drilling for oil in the Arctic should be encouraged

   C.   polar bears can surely adapt to changing climates 

D.   using solar energy is good for saving polar bears

D

    Many Chinese people are confused with the two nations: one is known for its cheese and watches; the other for IKEA and Volvo. 

    The problem largely stems from the fact that both nation’s names are written similarly in Mandarin---Ruidian(Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland)------which begin with the same symbol, according to the Swedish Consul General Victoria Liu in China. 

    In an effort to put an end to the mix-up, the Swedish and Swiss governments have launched a competition on a website, asking Chinese people to come up with funny ways to help differentiate the two countries.  Submissions can be accepted as a blog post, cartoon, photo, short film or in any other format. 

  The winner with the best submission will receive a 12-day trip to Sweden and Switzerland and will be expected to report back on his/her impressions of both countries following the trip, the website states.  Entries will be accepted until November 20. 

  The organizers have also devised a humorous campaign logo with objects and people associated with Sweden and Switzerland on separate maps of each country.  Sweden’s map features meatballs, a Viking, as well as two male cartoon figures with a heart between them symbolizing gay marriage, which remains illegal in Switzerland.  Switzerland’s map features cheese, the Alps and a picture of Roger Federer. 

  China may not be the only country struggling to tell Sweden and Switzerland apart.  Residents of Spanish-speaking countries also fall victim to the confusion as Sweden is spelt “Suecia” in Spanish while Switzerland is called “Suiza”. 

  Sweden and Switzerland aren’t the only places that have caused confusion among people.  Last month, , a British holidaymaker hoped to explore the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, but instead mistakenly caught a flight across the Atlantic to the tropical Caribbean island of Grenada following a confusing booking blunder.  Earlier this summer, two US holidaymakers were flown to the wrong continent after an airline confused two airport codes. 

63.What can we learn about the competition launched by the two governments?

   A.  The winner of the competition will receive a 24-day trip altogether to both of the countries.

   B.   The winner will report his/her impressions on the two countries in his/her submission.

C.   T he competition is held among all people around the world.

D.   The competition is held in order to stop people’s confusion about the two countries.

64.Why does the author mention the British holidaymaker?

   A.   To show us many people are confused by Sweden and Switzerland.

   B.   To prove airports make mistakes about people’s places too.

   C.   To explain Spanish-speaking people make mistakes too.

D.   To prove many people are confused about some places.

65.In which part of a newspaper could you probably find the passage?

   A.   Tourism    B.   News review    C.   Business    D.   Culture

66.What does the underlined word “devised” mean?

   A.  Compared.    B.  Collected.    C.  Invented.    D.  Installed
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