What a w_____ party it’s been.I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

 F_______ is the 2^nd month of the year.

The West Lake is beautiful beyond d_______.

The West Lake is beautiful beyond d_______.

They d_______ the goods to my door yesterday.

Researchers in the United States say dust clouds from dry African deserts may be a threat to the environment and human health. They say the dust may contain many small organisms(有機(jī)物) that could be dangerous to some people.

Each year, huge dust storms form in the Sahara and Sahel deserts of northern Africa. Winds carry the dust across the Atlantic Ocean. The movement of dust across the Atlantic Ocean has been increasing in recent years because of longer periods without rain in Africa.

From February to April, the dust settles in South America. From June to October, the winds change and transport the dust to North America, Central America and the Caribbean(加勒比海地區(qū)). The dust clouds travel several thousand meters above sea level. It takes five to seven days for the dust to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers have long known that the dust clouds could travel long distances. But they thought few microorganisms could survive the trip because of damaging ultraviolet radiation(紫外線) from the sun. Researchers now believe that the dust clouds block enough of the light to protect viruses, bacteria, and fungi in the dust.

Researchers say these microorganisms may be a health risk to some people. About half the bacteria and fungi that survive the trip from Africa are known to cause disease in people or plants.

More than half of the dust that reaches the United States settles in the state of Florida. For many years, it has caused the skies there to turn red. Now researchers say there may be a link between the dust storms and increased health risks in Florida. They believe the dust causes higher rates of asthma, allergies, and other breathing problems in people there. The dust also has been linked to a large increase in lung problems in at least one Caribbean nation.

58. Which statement about African dust storms is TRUE?

A. They form in the north of Africa and move eastwards.

B. They form in the north of Africa and move westwards.

C. They settle in South Africa from February to April.

D. It takes over a week for them to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

59. The worst thing about African dust storm is ______.

A. the heat they give off                              B. the distance they cover

C. the microorganisms they contain             D. the time they last

60. Which is NOT the effect of the dust in Florida?

A. For many years , the sky there turns red.

B. Health risks increase there.

C.The rates of breathing problems is higher there.

D.Half the bacteria and fungi survived there.

To a large degree，the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment．Regardless of what happened yesterday or last year，and what may or may not happen tomorrow，the present moment is where you are―always!

   We allow past problems and future concerns to control our present moments so much that we end up anxious，frustrated，depressed，and hopeless．We often convince ourselves future will be better than today. John Lennon once said，“Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans” “When we're busy making other plans”，our children are busy growing up，the people we love are moving away and dying，our bodies are getting out of shape．a(chǎn)nd our dreams are slipping away．In short, we miss out on life．

    Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date．It isn't．In fact，no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow．Now is the only time we have．a(chǎn)nd the only time that we have any control over．When our attention is in the present moment．we push fear from our minds．Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future―we won't have enough money，our children will get into trouble．we will get old and die，whatever．

    To struggle against fear，the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present．Mark Twain said，“I have been through some terrible things in my life．some of which actually happened．”I don't think I can say it any better．Practice keeping your attention on the here and now and your efforts will pay off．

53．The purpose of this passage is to tell readers         

  A．people who are busy making plans are living actively

  B．how to help others overcome fear

  C．we ought to learn to live in the present moment

  D．someone who only enjoys the present time usually wastes his time blindly

54．It implies from the passage that         

  A．many people know how to fight against fear

  B．it isn't necessary to fear for future

  C．you can gain more happiness by putting off your pleasure

  D．some people make plans for their children to improve their lives

55．“Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal” suggests that          ．

  A．they always wish to be an actor or an actress

  B．they believe that their present life is well prepared for their future

  C．they are always busy making plans for future

  D．They all have a guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow

56．Why are some people depressed and anxious day and night?

  A．Because they fear they cannot pass their tests．

  B．Because past problems and future concerns control their present moment．

  C．Because the people they love want to leave them alone

  D．Because they make some mistakes in the past．

57. What’s the ideal practice to do away with fear?

  A. To struggle against fear.                           B. To bring your attention back to the past.

  C. To facus your attention on the current.       D. To pay little attention to the present

Everybody hates it , but everybody does it . A recent report said that 40% of Americans hate tipping .

In America alone , tipping is a $16 billion-a-year industry . Consumers acting politely ought not to pay more than they have to for a given service . Tips should not exist . So why do they ? The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality . And also , tipping makes for closer relations . It went without saying that the better the service , the bigger the tip .

But according to a new research from Cornell University , tips no longer serves any useful function . The paper analyzes numbers they got from 2547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants . The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak . Only a tiny part of the size of the tip had anything to do with the quality of service .

Tipping is better explained by culture than by the money people spend . In America , the custom came into being a long time ago . It is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service. In New York restaurants , failing to tip at least 15% could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers . Hairdressers can expect to get 15%―20% , and the man who delivers your fast food $ 2. In Europe , tipping is less common . In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge . In many Asian countries , tipping has never really caught on at all . Only a few have really taken to tipping.

According to Michael Lynn , the Cornell papers’ author , countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more . Tipping may reduce anxiety about being served by strangers . And , says , Mr . Lynn, “in America , where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others , tipping is about social approval . If you tip badly , people think less of you . “Tipping well is a chance to show off .”

49．This passage is mainly about          .

       A．different kinds of tipping in different countries

       B．the relationship between tipping and custom

       C．the origin and present meaning of tipping

       D．most American people hate tipping

50．Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase “caught on” ?

       A．been hated          B．become popular

       C．been stopped       D．been permitted

51．Among the following situations , in your opinion , who is likely to tip most ?

       A．A Frenchman just quarreled with the barber who did his hair badly in NY.

       B．A Chinese student enjoyed his meal in a famous fast food restaurant in NY.

       C．A Japanese businessman asked for a pizza delivery from a Pizza Hut in NY.

       D．An American just had a wonderful dinner in a well-known restaurant in NY.

52．We can infer from this passage that          .

       A．tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves

       B．tipping has something to do with people’s character

       C．tipping in America can make service better now

       D．tipping is especially popular in New York