D

It has long been thought that first-born children are more successful than their younger brothers and sisters and often have qualities of being more organized and responsible as well as being eager to be in charge.

But a new study has shown that the elder child’s achievements can help improve their younger siblings’ exam results by helping them to raise their game. For the first time ever, researchers from the University of Essex examined how the success of first born children in school affected their younger brothers and sisters by studying primary school test results.

And the data showed that having an older brother or sister improved a child’s learning with the equal effect of spending an extra £670 on the younger sibling’s schooling. One of the study’s authors Birgitta Rabe explained, the older sibling’s achievement may have a direct effect on the younger sibling’s school grades if the older sibling teaches the younger sibling or helps with homework; the younger sibling imitates（模仿） the older sibling, for example in their work style, or tries to be different, for example to avoid competition; the older sibling passes on important information about educational choices or school and teachers to the younger sibling.

The effect is even more noticeable in less well-off families showing poorer children benefit more from a successful older sibling. “We find that the effect is larger for siblings in families relying on free school meals, living in poverty and speaking a language other than English at home. This means that children who live in poverty benefit more from a successful older sibling.”

43．The study is mainly based on the children’s ________.

A. exam results         B. work style

C. family background    D. educational choices

44．Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “well-off”?

A. Poor     B. Wealthy                 C. Happy           D. Unfortunate

45．What can we conclude from the study?

A. Younger siblings are more successful than first borns.

B. First-born children are as successful as their younger siblings.

C. First-born children are more successful than their younger siblings.

D. The success of first borns has positive effects on their younger siblings.

46．The passage is likely to appear in ________.

A. a newspaper advertisement

B. a high school textbook

C. a science magazine

D. a news report

E

Harvard researchers have created a tough, low-cost, biodegradable(可生物降解的) material inspired by insects’ hard outer shells. The material’s inventors say it has a number of possible uses and someday could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The material, made from shrimp(虾)shells and proteins produced from silk, is called “shrilk”. It is thin, clear, flexible and strong.

A major benefit of the material is its biodegradability. Plastic’s toughness and flexibility represented a revolution in materials science during the 1950s and 1960s. Decades later, however, plastic’s very durability(耐用性) is raising questions about how appropriate it is for one-time products such as plastic bags, or short-lived consumer goods, used in the home for a few years and then cast into a landfill where they will degrade for centuries. What is the point of making something that lasts 1,000 years?

Shrilk has great potential, the inventors said. Materials from which it is made are plentiful in nature, found in everything ranging from shrimp shells, insect bodies to living plants that makes shrilk low cost, and its mass production possible should it be used for products demanding a lot of material.

Work on shrilk is continuing in the lab. The inventors said the material becomes flexible when wet, so they’re exploring ways to use it in wet environments. They’re also developing simpler production processes, which could be used for non-medical products, like for computer cases and other products inside the home. They’re even exploring combining it with other materials like carbon fibers, to give it new properties.

47．Paragraph 1 of the passage is mainly about shrilk’s ______________.

A. remarkable design                          B. interesting name

C. major features                                D. basic elements

48．What has become a problem about plastic?

A. Using it properly                           B. Producing it cheaply

C. Developing its properties quickly     D. Evaluating its contributions fairly

49．According to the inventors, shrilk has great potential partly because _________.

A. it can help plastic degrade               B. it can be found in living things

C. it is in great need now                    D. its raw materials are plentiful in nature

50. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The disadvantage of plastic’s durability is obvious.

B. Shrilk can be made from everything in nature.

C. Shrilk is still under research and not put to use.

D. The inventors are optimistic about the new material.

第二节 补全对话根据对话内容，从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。选项中有两项多余选项。（共5 小题；每小题2 分，满分10 分）

A: Hi, John, I didn’t see you last week.   51 

B: Thanks, Jane. I was down with the flu.

A:   52   How are you doing now?

B: Much better, thanks. Still a little weak, but I’m finally up and about.

A:   53   Well, you didn’t miss much. We are reviewing Module 3. You can copy my notes, if you want to. Let me know whenever you need any help.

B:   54   Take care of yourself. I’ve heard quite a few people have had the flu.

A: I will. In fact my mother was down with it, but so far I seem to be OK. I’ll keep on taking vitamin C.   55 

第II卷   （非选择题 共60分）

第三部分  写作（共三节， 共60分）

第一节 阅读表达（共5小题；每小题2分，共10分）

阅读下面短文，并用英语回答问题，请注意题后的词数要求。

In old times, there was a story about a young athletic boy hungry for success, for whom winning was everything.

       One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in a small village. He and two other young boys were to compete. A large crowd had gathered to witness the competition and a wise old man, upon hearing of the little boy, had travelled far to bear witness, too.

       The race started. Sure enough, the boy dug deep and showed his determination, strength and power. He came first. The crowd cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm. The little boy, however, felt proud and important.

       A second race was called, and two new young challengers came forward to run with the little boy. The little boy finished first once again. The crowd again cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man expressed no opinion.

       “Another race, another race!” shouted the little boy. The wise man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers, a weak old lady and a blind man. “What is this?” quizzed the little boy. “Race!” said the wise man. The race was started and the boy was the only finisher. The little boy raised his arms in delight. The crowd, however, was silent showing no happiness.

       “Why don’t they join in my success?” he asked the wise old man. “Race again,” replied the wise man. “This time, all three of you, finish together,” continued the wise man. The little boy thought a little, stood in the middle of the blind man and the weak old lady, and then took the two challengers by the hand. The race began and the little boy walked slowly, ever so slowly, to the finishing line and crossed it. The crowd cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man smiled.

56. What was the young athletic boy wild about? (no more than 3 words)

57. How did the little boy feel after the first race? (no more than 6 words)

58. Who did the wise man introduce to the boy before the third race? (no more than 9 words)

59. Where did the story happen? (no more than 4 words)

60. Why did the crowd remain silent when the boy beat the lady and the blind man? (no more than 6 words)

第二节  短文改错（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）

下面短文中有10处语言错误。请在有错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。

注意：

1.       每句不超过两个错误；

2.       每处错误及修改均仅限一词；

3.       只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

I visited a zoo yesterday, and I was very unhappy and angry about the things what I saw. The large animals were in small cages. The lion was walking to back and forth. It was completely bored. The tiger fell asleep all the afternoon. I saw people feeding the fish. They were throwing rice and meat into the pond, which could kill the fish, but no one tries to stop them. When he had a drink at the zoo restaurant, the waiter served me rude. Outside the restaurant, the rubbish bins were full and rubbish was blowing everywhere. It seems that the zoo doesn’t look after the animals or the visitors very good.

第三节 书面表达  （满分35分）

某中学生英文报就“足球将成为中小学体育必修课”这一课改新政举办了一次征文调研，请你根据下面要点写一篇应征短文。

1.       阐述你对这项改革持有的观点及理由；

2.       谈谈你对足球的兴趣情况和态度；

3.       提出你对这项课改的希望或建议。

注意：

1.       词数120左右；

2.       开头语和结尾语已为你写好；

3.       可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

4.       文中不能出现考生真实姓名和学校名称。

参考词汇：课改 curriculum reform 

It has been announced that football shall be a required course, which all schoolchildren shall learn in a certain school age, whether they like it or not.

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