四、阅读理解(共3题，合计30分)
　　第1题:
　　While some international couriers are showing signs of exhaustion, EMS (Express Mail Service), the generic name for the courier services of post offices, seems to be finding its stride. Known as Datapost in Britain, as Chronopost in France, and as A1-Barid al-Mumtaz in Saudi Arabia, EMS is now second in the international courier business (jointly with TNT Skypack). Last year it delivered 5.6 million items, weighing less than 20 kilograms each, across borders. That and its annual growth rate of around 5 percent have worried DHL, the market leader, enough for it to counter-attack in the Courts.
　　On October 26, a Dutch judge ruled against DHL on all three counts filed against the Dutch post office: that the three-initial name was too close to DHL's; that the orange lines in the EMS logo were too similar to DHL's dark red ones; and that the claim to the widest route system in the world was unfounded. DHL has threatened the Swiss post office with similar action, but it may reconsider after the Dutch ruling.
　　EMS has some advantages over the private couriers. One is a dense ready-made network of offices, especially in Europe, the avowed target area of the private couriers. Another advantage is a long tradition of working with customs authorities. In a business where minutes count, it pays to have good friends at customs. That advantage particularly irritates the private couriers because there is no legal way to combat such unquantifiable coziness.
　　The private courier services are also annoyed because in countries like Switzerland and Italy, where the post office is officially a monopoly, they pay it a fee. In Switzerland DHL says it pays more than SFr lm ($ 708,000) "to the competition" each year. In France the couriers have won a battle for exoneration.
　　Although governments are under little pressure to keep prices artificially low, EMS is often cheaper than the private couriers, but not always. A recent test in Britain (on a domestic route) showed Datapost about halfway between the least and the most expensive, but gave it full marks for speed and service.
　　Each national EMS is free to set its rates and follow its own rules on things like bulk discounts. The Universal Postal Union, based in Berne, determines how costs and revenues are split between sending and receiving countries, and standardizes procedures. More than 100 postal administrations have linked into the system—and more are coming, including Russia's. That makes the feisty EMS particularly happy since its rivals have not been allowed to serve anywhere in Russia.
　　(1).The passage focuses primarily on ______.
　　A. problems of post offices in Britain
　　B. the new courier service—EMS
　　C. the competition between private and international courier services
　　D. differences between EMS and DHL(2).The word "couriers" underlined in Paragraph 1 means ______.
　　A. general mail service B. persons sending mails
　　C. emergency mail service D. international mail service
　　(3).The word "stride" underlined in Paragraph 1 means ______.
　　A. advance B. pride C. position D. route
　　(4).Which of the following names is NOT used for EMS?
　　A. Datapost B. Chronopost
　　C. A1-Barid al Mumtaz D. TNT Skypack
　　(5).Which of the following is true of DHL according to the passage?
　　A. It cooperates with TNT Skypack.
　　B. It is showing signs of exhaustion.
　　C. It might have a leading position in the international courier business.
　　D. It has an annual growth rate of 5%.
　　(6).The author provides a further explanation of
　　A. TNT Skypack B. monopoly
　　C. three counts D. a ready-made network
　　(7).Which of the following questions is answered according to the passage?
　　A. What advantages does EMS have over the private couriers?
　　B. When was EMS set up?
　　C. How many countries have started EMS?
　　D. What items are not allowed in EMS?
　　(8). All the following factors are given as reasons for the annoyance of the private courier services EXCEPT ______.
　　A. lack of relations at customs B. the monopoly of the post office
　　C. no network of offices D. the shortage of workers
　　(9). The recent test in Britain shows that ______.
　　A. EMS provides better services than the private couriers
　　B. the private couriers are as cheap as EMS
　　C. the private couriers are faster than EMS
　　D. EMS is always cheaper than the private couriers
　　(10). Which of the following can be inferred about Russia?
　　A. Russia needed to compete with other European countries in EMS.
　　B. There were no private courier services in Russia.
　　C. The postal administration in Russia linked with the network long ago.
　　D. Russia was quite hesitant in the international cooperation.
　　第2题:
　　A federal judge on Monday certified a $ 200 billion class action lawsuit against the tobacco industry for its marketing of light cigarettes.
　　Eastern District of New York Judge Jack B. Weinstein's 540-page opinion in Schwab v. Philip Morris USA, Inc. , 04-CIV-1945—which included an additional 965 pages of appendices for a total of 1,505 pages-gave tens of millions of smokers an avenue to recover damages from the nation's largest tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA Inc. , R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. , Lorillard Tobacco Co. , and Liggett Group, Inc.
　　The class will include anyone who purchased light cigarettes from the time tobacco companies began selling them in the 1970s. The judge said he even would consider broadening the class, to encompass smokers of all "low tar" brands, not just light cigarettes. The judge suggested that an expansion of the class could assist the parties in negotiating a global settlement. He set a trial date for January 22, 2007. The plaintiffs intend to seek treble damages.
　　Weinstein has expressed skepticism about the plaintiffs' theory of damages, which alleges that light smokers were defrauded of billions because they believed they were buying a product of greater value because of its health advantages. The judge also questioned the size of the class, as well as the claim that as many as 90 percent of light cigarette smokers chose the cigarettes because they were less harmful.
　　In his ruling Monday, the judge stressed that while the suit was far from perfect, the evidence was sufficient. He said the jury system—which he described as the "ultimate focus group of the law"—was well equipped to sort out the particulars in accordance with Amendment VII of the U. S. Constitution.
　　Weinstein declined to grant an interlocutory appeal to the 2nd U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Theodore M. Grossman of Jones Day in Cleveland, which represents R J. Reynolds, said the defendants would seek a stay and appeal the class certification under Rule 23 (f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
　　(1).From the passage it can be inferred that "a $ 200 billion class action lawsuit" is one that ______.
　　A. requires a public fund of $ 200 billion
　　B. may lead to US $ 200 billion in payment
　　C. involves an investment of US $ 200 billion
　　D. is about what the tobacco industry is worth
　　(2). From Paragraph 2, we know that the ruling of Judge Jack B. Weinstein has a total of ______ pages.
　　A. 540 B. 965 C. 1,505 D. 2,045
　　(3).From the beginning of the passage, we learn that Jack B. Weinstein most probably is ______.
　　A. a federal judge B. a New York lawyer
　　C. a report writer D. an Eastern District judge
　　(4).Obviously, the passage states that the lawsuit being briefed is between
　　A. Schwab and Philip Morris USA, Inc.
　　B. Jack B. Weinstein and Philip Morris USA, Inc.
　　C. tens of millions of smokers and Philip Morris USA, Inc.
　　D. any light cigarette smokers and Philip Morris USA, Inc.
　　(5). As mentioned in Paragraph 3, tobacco companies in the U. S. began marketing ______ in the 1970s.
　　A. high-class cigarettes B. low-class cigarettes
　　C. light cigarettes D. "low tar" brands
　　(6).The phrase "a global settlement" underlined in Paragraph 3 refers to ______.
　　A. smokers are found everywhere on the globe
　　B. smokers are to settle down around the world
　　C. people around the earth smoke light cigarettes
　　D. a final court decision that applies internationally
　　(7).The phrase "product of greater value" underlined in Paragraph 4 refers to ______.
　　A. lawsuit plaintiffs B. theoretical damages
　　C. light cigarettes D. health advantages
　　(8). The phrase "size of the class" underlined in Paragraph 4 refers to the ______.
　　A. number of light smokers B. quantity of light cigarettes
　　C. number of plaintiffs D. amount of money involved
　　(9). The word "particulars" underlined in Paragraph 5 refers to the ______.
　　A. lawsuit B. ruling C. evidence D. progress
　　(10).The phrase "Jones Day" underlined in Paragraph 6 refers to a ______.
　　A. person B. firm C. holiday D. corporation
　　第3题:
　　It sounds like a science fiction, but researchers say it's a scientific fact: Microscopic organisms dubbed "killer algae" are paralyzing fish with unknown toxins and then eating away at their flesh. They might be making people sick, too.
　　The name given to this single-cell organism, or dinoflagellate, is Pfiesteria piscimorte- literally, "fish killer. " It was discovered at North Carolina State University in 1988, but at the same time, few scientists believed in its existence, much less in its highly unusual predatory nature. But ongoing research has led to international acknowledgment of the phenomenon and, recently, research funding.
　　Seemingly prompted by an unknown substance secreted by fish, the aggressive creature swims into action. It sends neurotoxins into the water and air, paralyzing a fish's nervous system, and causing it to gasp for air at the surface. Eventually the fish suffocates. The killer dinoflagellate then attaches itself to the fish and begins sucking away at its flesh. This macabre scenario may help solve several sea mysteries, such as why fishermen report seeing "fish walks" (fish trying to leave the water) and pools of dead fish with holes eaten through them.
　　Whether humans are affected by the dinoflagellate's toxin remains to be seen. Researchers think it's unlikely eating fresh fish are in danger, but anyone with frequent exposure to the creature could be in peril. Several researchers working with the algae have reported bouts of memory loss and disorientation.
　　To understand the killer algae further, scientists must fully characterize their toxin and determine what stimulates them to attack. They also need to know if the algae are hurting fish populations, and whether pollutants make them more likely to attack.
　　(1). The passage is primarily concerned with ______.
　　A. informing readers of different sea creatures
　　B. describing predatory microscopic organisms
　　C. solving some long-lasting mysteries about the sea
　　D. discussing the environment for various fishes
　　(2).The word "they" underlined in Paragraph 1 refers to ______.
　　A. organisms B. fish C. toxins D. flesh
　　(3).The word "literally" underlined in Paragraph 2 most probably means ______.
　　A. namely B. superficially C. imaginatively D. actually
　　(4).It is implied in the passage that ______.
　　A. many scientists had known dinoflagellate before 1988
　　B. there had been no such organisms before 1988
　　C. many scientists were in doubt about the nature of the organism in 1988
　　D. no scientists knew anything about the organism in 1988(5).All the following names are used to describe the organism EXCEPT ______.
　　A. dinoflagellate B. Pfiesteria piscimorte
　　C. killer algae D. a science fiction
　　(6).The word "prompted" underlined in Paragraph 3 means ______.
　　A. stimulated B. attracted C. annoyed D. shocked
　　(7). Which of the following questions is answered according to the information given in the passage?
　　A. What is the toxin used by the fish killer?
　　B. Who first discovered the organism?
　　C. How does the fish killer paralyze fish?
　　D. How many fishes can the organism kill each day?
　　(8). Researchers think that it is ______.
　　A. safe to eat fresh fish B. dangerous to get close to the algae
　　C. safe to be near the algae D. dangerous to expose the algae
　　(9).Which of the following does the writer explain?
　　A. Neurotoxins. B. Microscopic organisms.
　　C. Predators. D. Fish walks.
　　(10).Which of the following statements is true?
　　A. Scientists have solved the mystery about the fish killer.
　　B. More studies need to be made about the fish killer.
　　C. It is proved that the algae are reducing fish populations.
　　D. Humans have already been affected by the toxin.