Fast Reading 汇总.

Directions：In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For question 1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）,B）,C）,and D）.For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

Passage One Beauty and Body Image in the Media

Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women—and their body parts—sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career.

Why are standards of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger and more mature than any of the models? The roots, some analysts say, are economic. By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits.

And it’s no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as an essential criterion of beauty. If not all women need to lose weight, for sure they’re all aging, says the Quebec Action Network for Women’s Health in its 2001 report. And, according to the industry, age is a disaster that needs to be dealt with.

The stakes are huge. On the one hand, women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids. It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth anywhere between 40 to 100 billion (U.S.) a year selling temporary weight loss (90 to 95% of dieters regain the lost weight).On the other hand, research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.

The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that one out of every four college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight

control—including fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative (泻药) abuse, and self-induced vomiting. The pressure to be thin is also affecting young girls: the Canadian Women’s Health Network warns that weight control measures are now being taken by girls as young as 5 and 6. American statistics are similar. Several studies, such as one conducted by Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark in 2006 titled “Appearance Culture in Nine- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction,” indicate that nearly half of all preadolescent girls wish to be thinner, and as a result have engaged in a diet or are aware of the concept of dieting. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 per cent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 per cent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight. Overall research indicates that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way.

Media activist Jean Kilbourne concludes that, “Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight.”

Unattainable Beauty

Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that media images of female beauty are unattainable for all but a very small number of women. Researchers generating a computer model of a woman with Barbie-doll proportions, for example, found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea ( 慢性腹泻) and eventually die from malnutrition. Jill Barad, President of Mattel (which manufactures Barbie), estimated that 99% of girls aged 3 to 10 years old own at least one Barbie doll.

Still, the number of real life women and girls who seek a similarly underweight body is epidemic, and they can suffer equally devastating health consequences. In 2006 it was estimated that up to 450, 000 Canadian women were affected by an eating disorder.

The Culture of Thinness

Researchers report that women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery.

Television and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of a woman’s worth. Canadian researcher Gregory Fouts reports that over three-quarters of the female characters in TV situation comedies are underweight, and only one in twenty are above average in size. Heavier actresses tend to receive negative comments from male characters about their bodies (“How about wearing a sack?”), and 80 per cent of these negative comments are followed by canned audience laughter.

There have been efforts in the magazine industry to buck ( 抵制，反抗) the trend. For several years the Quebec magazine Coup de Pouce has consistently included full-sized women in their fashion pages and Châtelaine has pledged not to touch up photos and not to include models less than 25 years of age. In Madrid, one of the world’s biggest fashion capitals, ultra-thin models were banned from the runway in 2006. Furthermore Spain has recently undergone a project with the aim to standardize clothing sizes through using a unique process in which a laser beam is used to measure real life women’s bodies in order to find the most true to life measurement.

Ethics

Another issue is the representation of ethnically diverse women in the media. A 2008 study conducted by Juanita Covert and Travis Dixon titled “A Changing View: Representation and Effects of the Portrayal of Women of Color in Mainstream Women’s Magazines” found that although there was an increase in the representation of women of colour, overall white women were overrepresented in mainstream women’s magazines from 1999 to 2004. Self-Improvement or Self-Destruction?

The barrage of messages about thinness, dieting and beauty tells “ordinary” women that they are always in need of adjustment—and that the female body is an object to be perfected.

Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real women’s bodies have become invisible in the mass media. The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize these stereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industry’s standards. Women learn to compare themselves to other women, and to compete with them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability “effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate.”

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答。

1. Women’s magazines are full of articles to urge women to ___________.

A) eat less sweet food C) marry a rich husband

B) lose weight D) have at least two kids

2. The cosmetic and diet product industries gain profits by ____________.

A) exaggerating the goodness about their products

B) targeting at children and females

C) presenting an ideal image difficult to achieve

D) distributing free samples from home to home

3. Canadian Women’s health Network warns that weight control measures are now being taken by girls _____________.

A) at age 5 or 6 C) at age 13 or 14

B) at age 9 or 10 D) at age 16 or 17

4. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that ____________ percent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight.

A) 35 to 50 C) 50 to 70

B) 50 D) 90

5. Researchers found that a real woman with Barbie-doll proportions would _____________.

A) suffer from heart disease C) live a more rewarding life

B) be very popular with males D) die from malnutrition

6. Television and movies emphasize that a woman’s worth can be judged by _____________.

A) the cosmetics she uses C) the thinness of her body

B) the jewelry she wears D) the wealth of her husband

7. Spain has recently undergone a project to _____________.

A) include full-sized women in its fashion magazines

B) standardize clothing sizes

C) ban ultra-thin models from the runway

D) promote weight loss among men

8. In mainstream women’s magazines from 1999 to 2004, ______________ were overrepresented.

9. Jean Kilbourne concludes that many women judge themselves by _______________________.

10. The focus on ___________________________ destroys any awareness and action that might help to change the trend.

1. B 2. C 3. A. 4. C 5. D 6. C. 7. B 8. over all white women 9. the beauty industry’s standards 10. beauty and desirability

Passage II. Time Off from Work Gains in Importance

American workers are saying they need a break. As their number of hours clocked on the job has crept higher, more time off has become a bigger priority. In the past few years, human resources experts say time off has consistently placed among the top three employee concerns, along with compensation and staffing levels, whereas it used to be farther down the list. In a Salary.com poll taken online in November 2004, 39% of workers said if given the choice, they would choose time off over the equivalent in additional base salary. Of course, most of the 4,600 respondents are still opting for the bigger paycheck, but the desire for time off is up almost 20% from just three years ago when Salary.com conducted a similar poll.

The reasons for this shift are many and varied. Some have to do with the way a new generation is thinking about work, while others are driven by how companies are responding to recent economic pressures.

A New Generation

The results may in part represent the needs of a new breed of workers. The average American is working one month (160 hours) more each year than a generation ago. According to recruiting and human capital management expert John Sumser, younger workers work for meaning first and money second. He goes on to warn employers that these are the people who are the foundation for the next workforce and they may not buy the existing paradigm (范例). A study released in late 2004 by the New York-based Families and Work Institute concludes that the new brand of young workers is rejecting the work-centric style of their parents’ generation. The study, which examines changes in the workforce over the past 25 years, found that younger workers are more likely to be “family-centric” or

“dual-centric” (with equal priorities on both career and family) rather than “work-centric” when compared to members of the Boomer Generation.

September 11th and the End of the Roaring Nineties

The impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11th cut across all age groups of the workforce. We collectively entered a new era, reevaluating life’s priorities and making changes in our attitude toward time spent at work versus hobbies and family. “I started looking at things completely differently. I’ve been far less willing to put in the 14-hour days necessary to get noticed and climb the corporate ladder,” said Tony Jackson, a 43-year-old employee of a New York City-based financial services company. “Frankly, I can’t see that changing.”

Even before September 11th, some experts say the slow shift in worker attitudes was already underway due to the end of the roaring 1990’s, when hours were long and significant personal wealth was created. For those who fared well financially, some opted for careers of contract work where they could call more of the shots pertaining to (与„„有关的) time off, or new occupations with greater personal rewards. For others, even if their bank accounts were not spilling over from America’s economic heyday (全盛时期), their own energy had been depleted due to unrelenting (毫不松懈的) years of work hours and high stress. They were ready for something less taxing.

Families and Work Institute President and co-founder Ellen Galinsky agrees. She says the Salary.com poll numbers show evidence of an increase in need for time off and a shift in thinking due to the fact that workers have been pushed to their limit in recent years. “This new generation of workers is at the edge of how long they can work. It just feels like too much. They are not slackers (懒虫); they just don’t want more,” says Galinsky.

Monetary Needs Less Intense Due to Dual Income Households

“We’ve decided we prefer to have more time to ourselves,” says Carol Kornhaber, a New England software programmer in her late twenties. Kornhaber and her husband are

both working but have sought out jobs where they are not pressed to put in long hours. Instead, they have insisted upon eight-hour days and having enough vacation time to travel, a major interest they share. Financial pressures are eased by both of them working and keeping a careful watch on their expenses. “We are lucky in a lot of ways to have found bosses who understand our needs.”

Burnout

Trying to squeeze more productivity out of workers may be nothing new, but it has become particularly acute in recent years. This has been due in large measure to recession-induced layoffs and other trends such as the rising cost of healthcare benefits. After a layoff, workers who remain behind are often asked to pick up most or even all the load of the people who were let go, requiring more and more hours at the office. As new corporate initiatives are planned, the inverse is also true. As Sumser observes, “the additional workload, which runs across the economy from the office worker to the manufacturing line, seems to be a function of the cost of benefits. The regulations make it cheaper to add workload for existing employees than to hire new players.” The Families and Work Institute reports that nearly one third of U.S. employees often or very often feel overworked or overwhelmed by how much work they have to do. Nearly three out of four report that they frequently dream about doing something different from their current job.

Show Me the Money

Overworked or not, the majority in the Salary.com poll still chose to fatten their paycheck if given the choice. For many, it was a practical matter. Says Peggy Jones, an accountant in a Boston area business services company, “I already get three weeks a year that I can’t use up because I’m so busy. I’d definitely go for the extra money to pay some bills or make a big purchase I’ve been holding off on.” For Jones, the realities of running a household and saving up for college for her children simply need to take precedence over extra free time.

Companies Are Already Responding

To many human resources experts it is inevitable that, given the growing health of the economy and the upcoming population-driven labor shortages as the Boomer Generation moves into retirement, the pendulum of control in the employee-employer relationship will swing back to the employee side. That is expected to begin in just a few years. According to human resources expert, Larry Schumer, at Salary.com, “since most companies succeed based on a motivated and capable workforce, they have offered and will continue to offer more paid flexibility, whether it be through tried and tested time-off programs or the next great idea.” Where will that new balance of employer versus employee needs lie? Time, or perhaps time off, surely will tell.

1. Which of the following has been rising in importance in the past few years?

A) Compensation. B) Time off. C) Right to vote. D) Staffing levels.

2. According to the passage, we know that the Boomer Generation is concerned ________.

A) about family and work equally B) more about work

C) more about family D) about neither work nor family

3. What can be inferred about Tony Jackson?

A) He is 43 years old. B) He works in a financial services company.

C) He has changed his life and work attitude. D) He spends 14 hours a day on his work.

4. When did American workers gradually begin to change their attitudes towards work?

A) After September 11. B) In November 2004.

C) In late 2004. D) At the end of the roaring 1990’s.

5. According to Ellen Galinsky, why did workers change their mind about work?

A) They have been pushed to the limit of their working hours.

B) They increased their need to enjoy life.

C) They have more rights than before.

D) They don’t want to work for a living.

6. Carol Kornhaber and her husband don’t have too much financial pressure because ___________.

A) they have parents who are rich B) they don’t have children to feed

C) they both have a high salary D) they both have work and they are thrifty

7. After a layoff, the employees who keep their jobs usually have to ___________.

A) find another job in case they are fired B) do what their bosses tell them to

C) work longer hours to avoid being fired D) do the work left by the laid-off workers

8. According to Salary.com, compared with three years ago, the desire for time off is up almost ________.

9. According to the poll from Salary.com, the majority of employees preferred to ________ if they had the choice.

10. Larry Schumer said that most companies succeeded based on a motivated and capable __________.

1. B)。参见第一段中“In the past few years, human resources experts say time off has consistently placed among the top three employee concerns, along with compensation and staffing levels ...”可知，过去几年中雇员对休息时间的关注程度有所提高。

2. B)。参见A New Generation 小标题下“... younger workers are more likely to be ‘family-centric’ or ‘dual-centric’ (with equal priorities on both career and family) rather than ‘work-centric’ when compared to members of the Boomer Generation.”可知，出生在生育高峰期的那代人与当代的年轻人相比，他们对工作的重视程度要大于对家庭的重视程度。

3. C)。参见September 11th and the End of the Roaring Nineties小标题下“I started looking at things completely differently.”可知，Tony Jackson已经改变了对工作和生活的态度。

4. D)。参见September 11th and the End of the Roaring Nineties小标题下“Even before September 11th, some experts say the slow shift in worker attitudes was already underway due to the end of the roaring 1990’s ...”可知，在9.11事件之前就有专家称：工人们对待工作的态度在喧嚣的20世纪90年代末已经开始发生转变。

5. A)。参见September 11th and the End of the Roaring Nineties小标题下“... due to the fact that workers have been pushed to their limit in recent years.”可知，工人们的工作时间已经达到极限，这是他们改变了对工作的态度的原因。

6. D)。参见Monetary Needs Less Intense Due to Dual Income Households 小标题下“Financial pressures are eased by both of them working and keeping a careful watch on their expenses.”可知，他们没有过大的经济压力是由于夫妻双方都有工作，而且不乱花钱。

7. D)。参见Burnout小标题下“After a layoff, workers who remain behind are often asked to pick up most or even all the load of the people who were let go, requiring more and more hours at the office.”可知，裁员后，被辞退员工的工作通常由在职的员工帮助完成。

8. 20%。参见第一段最后一句“... but the desire for time off is up almost 20% from just three years ago when Salary.com conducted a similar poll.”可知，与三年前的统计数据相比，要休息时间而不要补贴的人数上升了20%。

9. fatten their paycheck。参见Show Me the Money小标题下第一句话“... the majority in the Salary.com poll still chose to fatten their paycheck if given the choice.”可知，如果有机会，大多数人仍然选择丰厚的报酬。

10. workforce。参见Companies Are Already Responding小标题下“... Larry Schumer, at Salary.com, ‘since most companies succeed based on a motivated and capable workforce ...’” 可知，多数公司的成功是因为有一支有积极性并有能力的员工队伍。

Passage III Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress

Finding work-life balance in today’s frenetically (疯狂) paced world is no simple task.

Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult.

Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress — along with its harmful effects — is the result.

The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance — and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance.

How work invades your personal life

There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Here’s why:

●Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs.

●International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.

●Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere — from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this.

●Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than they’re scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory (强制性的). If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.

●Changes in family roles. Today’s married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.

Married to your work

It can be tempting to rack up the hours at work — especially if you’re trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a child’s education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.

But if you’re spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance:

●Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired. This means you’re less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation.

●Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your child’s first bike ride, your father’s 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones.

●Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if you’re spending time at the office instead of with them, you’ll find it difficult to nurture those friendships.

●Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.

Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you won’t be able to avoid it, but you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when you’re too tired, when it’s affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.

Striking the best work-life balance

For most people, juggling (巧妙处理) the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time — from overtime to family obligations — it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you.

Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that’s best for you:

●Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead (充当先锋) an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.

●Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.

●Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.

●Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.

●Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.

●Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.

●Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate (使年轻) you.

Remember, striking a work-life balance isn’t a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.

1. What will happen if your work life and personal life feel out of balance?

A) You will have little time to finish your work.

B) You may feel stress, which will affect you negatively.

C) You will have a lot of time to share with your family.

D) You will never balance the combination of life and work.

2. The boundaries between work and home have blurred for the following reasons, EXCEPT _______.

A) global economy B) changes in family roles

C) advanced communication technology D) high divorce rate

3. What will happen if you’re spending most of your time at work?

A) You will lose both health and wealth. B) You will be hated by your loved ones.

C) You will lose all your friends. D) You may be given more responsibility.

4. According to the passage, you’d better say no to mandatory overtime when _______________.

A) you get bored with the work B) you are not interested in the work

C) you can’t get additional allowance D) you have crucial family obligations

5. What does the underlined sentence mean?

A) You should do the things people ask you to do without feeling guilty.

B) You shouldn’t do the things people ask you to do if you don’t want to.

C) To do things people ask you to do can bring you a lot of joy.

D) To do things for yourself is more meaningful than to do things for others.

6. What will NOT happen if you don’t get enough sleep?

A) You will feel stressed while working. B) You will have no sense of exhaustion.

C) You can make costly mistakes. D) You will have low productivity.

7. What does the real balance mean according to the author?

A) Examining priorities and deciding what is the most important to you.

B) Doing everything you want to do whether you can do it or not.

C) Saying yes to everybody in order to maintain good relationships.

D) Being firm that working overtime will strike a work-life balance.

8. Spend more time at work than at home, and you won’t have enough time to enjoy your _______________.

9. You have slow responses and your eye-hand coordination decreases when you’re ________.

10. You can save a lot of time and avoid misunderstandings if you communicate clearly and ____________.

1. B)。参见第三段“Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress — along with its harmful

effects — is the result.”可知，当你生活和工作的平衡被打乱的时候，你就会感到压力，这种压力会给你带来不好的影响。

2. D)。参见How work invades your personal life小标题下列举的打乱生活和工作平衡的内容可知，A)、B)、C)三个选项的内容与文章相符，唯有D)在文章中没有提及。

3. D)。参见Married to your work小标题下列举的过度工作可能给自己和家人或朋友带来的影响可知，文章提到了过度工作会使你疲劳并导致效率低下;过度工作还会占用你与家人和朋友团聚的时间而使亲情、友情受到影响;过度工作还会使你深陷工作泥潭以至于你肩上的担子越压越重。A)、B)、C)三个选项在一定程度上改变了文章的含义，只有D)与原文内容相符。

4. D)。参见Married to your work小标题下“Most importantly, say no when you’re too tired, when it’s affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.”一句可知，当你遇到如下三种情况的时候要对加班说“不”：太累了;影响到你的健康;有至关重要的家事。

5. B)。参见Striking the best work-life balance小标题下画线一句可知，作者是在建议大家学会说“不”，当别人让你帮助做某事的时候，你如果不想做，可以礼貌地拒绝，而不要强迫自己去做。

6. B)。参见Striking the best work-life balance小标题下Get enough sleep.一段所讲述的内容可知，如果你睡眠不足，你可能会在工作的时候感觉有压力;你可能会犯错误而因此付出高昂的代价;你的工作效率低下。但是文章中并没有说当你睡眠不足的时候，你就没有疲劳的感觉。

7. A)。纵观全文可知，本文作者认为，做出正确的判断和决定，判断哪些事情比较紧急，决定哪些事情对你来说是最重要的。

8. personal life。参见文章“Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life.”一句可知，如果你的工作占用了你大部分时间，那么你就没有足够的时间来享受生活。

9. tired。参见Married to your work小标题下“Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired.”一句可知，当你疲惫的时候你的反应速度在降低，你手眼协调能力在下降。

10. listen carefully。参见Striking the best work-life balance小标题下“Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully.”一句可知，如果你在与人交流的时候表达清楚、仔细倾听，那么你可以节省大量因为沟通中的误解所浪费的时间。

Passage IV Online Degrees

Today, you can earn a degree from a major university without ever having sat in one of their classrooms. Many colleges and universities are jumping on the distance learning bandwagon and offering online courses and degree programs.

In this article we’ll look at how online degrees work, what you should look for if you are pursuing a degree via the online option, and what employers think of online degrees.

Online Learning Programs

With a computer, an Internet connection and a little self-discipline, you can earn a degree from home, work, or anywhere else for that matter. Online degree programs follow much the same routines as traditional learning, with a few twists. There are lectures, but they won’t be in person. There are assignments, but you won’t hand them to your instructor. There are exams, but you won’t be able to look at your neighbor’s paper. There may be a set time that “class” begins, but you don’t have to be there then. In most situations, you are free to “go to class” when it fits your schedule. If you get a phone call during class, you don’t have to miss anything. If you get sick, you don’t have to ask for someone’s notes, and you just visit the lecture later.

You’ll communicate with your instructor by e-mail, chat rooms, bulletin boards, and instant messaging. Your classroom will live in a special software program that uses text chat and bulletin boards, as well as streaming audio or recorded lectures. You may be put into a virtual workgroup with other students and be required to solve a problem. You may have to work through interactive puzzles and quizzes. Contrary to popular belief, you will have contact with other students and the instructor.

Depending on the program and institution, distance learning may consist of synchronous (live) sessions or asynchronous (non-live) sessions. Transcripts and notes from lectures are archived, so you can always go back if you missed something. If there are live sessions with discussions among students, you can go back to those as well. Assignments may even be returned with audio clips so your instructors can convey their tone of voice along with their comments.

Printed documents may be sent to you through the mail, or you may have the options of printing them yourself or reading them online.

Some schools require an initial “boot camp” held at the campus (if there is one), where you will meet the other students, instructors and support personnel. You’ll learn how to use the technology, learn about the library and reference systems, and begin your coursework.

Evaluating the Program

So once you know the school is accredited, is the decision easy? Not necessarily. There are still a lot of questions to ask before you make your selection, such as:

★How is the course presented?

Investigate the method by which the instructor gives lectures. Does the instructor simply put the lecture online as text? Are there accompanying slides? Is there any interaction? Is there video or audio? Are exams given? How are assignments turned in?

The format of the course is sometimes as important as the content. Great content is more easily absorbed if it’s done in a dynamic and innovative manner that involves interaction between the student and instructor as well as interaction with the content itself. Online learning technology provides many opportunities for innovation. Find a school that takes advantage of it.

★How do students interact with each other?

Is there an established method for interaction and congregating? Online programs can use chat rooms, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to communicate. The key is to find a program that has this interaction built into it and even requires it. How the online community functions should be very important to both the instructor and the educational institution.

★Are the instructors qualified?

Check out the credentials and degrees the instructors hold, as well as their knowledge of online learning and its differences from classroom learning. What kind of support do the instructors get for their online courses? If technical problems arise, is there someone to turn to? A school that is dedicated to its online programs will have the development staff and the support staff to make it successful. Instructors (and students) have to be able to adapt to changing technology.

★What kind of reputation does the school have?

It may seem simple — a good school will have a good online program. That may be true, but it is also probable that its online program is still too new to judge, so you’re left with nothing but the reputation of the school’s traditional programs. This reputation, however, may not be as straightforward as you think. You can look at the overall quality of the school and make a judgment, but there may be weaknesses in the program in which you are interested. It’s not uncommon for a great school to have a weak program or two.

★How are students evaluated?

Earning a degree should mean just that — earning it. If students aren’t assessed properly and degrees are handed out with little or no verification that any knowledge has been transferred from the instructor to the student, then how can the program be rated? Students, particularly adult students, learn more by doing than by simply listening. For this reason, it is important to ensure that part of the program involves applying what has been learned.

The Employer’s View

The big question in everyone’s mind is, “Is an online degree from an accredited college or university seen by potential employers as a lesser degree?” Vault.com, a career network Website, did a survey of 239 HR professionals. According to the results, 77 percent of respondents believe that an online degree earned at an accredited institution like Duke or Stanford is more credible than one earned at an Internet-only institution.

Other sources, such as Thomas L. Russell of North Carolina State University, did studies that revealed that there is little if any difference in the quality of education received through online distance learning versus traditional classrooms. John Losak at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale found similar results in his own study. He analyzed graduation rates, time to graduation, and knowledge, as well as other elements. He found the students performed as well or better in online courses.

As more and more people get online degrees and use them in the workforce, HR managers and hiring managers will begin to feel more secure about the quality of education these people have. If the studies that were done by Thomas L. Russell and John Losak — showing the quality of online education to be as good as or better than that of traditional education — hold up on a larger scale, then the future of getting jobs and advancements based on online degrees will be bright.

Until then, choose schools carefully, and check for accreditation and strong programs. When you’ve completed the degree, go to job interviews armed with information to counter any questions about the quality or validity of your degree. Make sure the interviewer knows how you achieved the degree, how you worked it into a busy schedule, how you overcame any obstacles. It will show a self-motivation and discipline that may be just the qualities the company is looking for.

1. Which of the following is the unique characteristic of online education that traditional education doesn’t have?

A) There are lectures, but they won’t be in person.

B) There are assignments, and you must hand them to your instructor.

C) If you get sick, you have to ask for someone’s notes.

D) If you get a phone call during class, you will miss something.

2. What can you do in some schools’ initial “boot camp”?

A) To meet the other students and instructors. B) To read books in the library.

C) To attend class in person. D) To hand your paper to your instructor.

3. What is the best type of online lecture?

A) One with no accompanying slides. B) One that is simply put online as text.

C) One without video or audio. D) One with interaction during the lecture.

4. Great content is more easily absorbed if it’s done in a ________ manner.

A) static and innovative B) traditional and obsolete

C) dynamic and innovative D) simple and active

5. What is the most important part of online communication?

A) To use chat rooms and instant messaging to communicate.

B) To find a program that has interaction built into it.

C) To find an established method for interaction.

D) To use video conferencing to communicate.

6. What will be employers’ view about online degrees as more are used in the workforce?

A) They will feel doubtful about the quality of online education.

B) They will feel more secure about the quality of online education.

C) They will not be quite sure about the quality of online education.

D) They will fully trust the quality of online education.

7. What may be the qualities that some companies are looking for according to the passage?

A) Quality of your degree. B) Validity of your degree.

C) Self-motivation and discipline. D) Ability to overcome obstacles.

8. A school that is dedicated to its online programs will have the _______ and the support staff to make it successful.

9. The reputation of the school, however, may not be as __________ as you think.

10. Students, particularly __________, learn more by doing than by simply listening.

1. A)。参见Online Learning Programs小标题下“Online degree programs follow much the same routines as traditional learning, with a few twists....”可知，网络教育项目在很多方面沿袭着传统的学习方式，但是还是有些许不同。比如说，如果举行讲座，你不必亲自到场参加就可以听到。

2. A)。题干问为什么有些学校在开始的时候要求有训练营?参见Online Learning Programs小标题下最后一段可知，在训练营中你会见到其他学生、指导老师以及其他辅助人员;你会学习如何使用技术，如何使用图书馆以及检索系统，并开始你的课程。

3. D)。参见Evaluating the Program小标题下第一个要注意的问题的相关内容可知，老师做讲座的方式应该认真考察一下，从哪些方面考察，哪些是比较好的方式呢?比如是否使用幻灯片，是否使用音频视频材料，讲座中间是否有互动，讲座是否只是以文本的形式挂在网上等等。

4. C)。参见Evaluating the Program小标题下列举的第一个要注意的问题的相关内容可知，如果以充满活力和创新的方式授课，那么主要内容可以更容易掌握。

5. B)。在线交流的关键问题是什么?参见Evaluating the Program小标题下列举的第二个要注意的问题的相关内容可知，考察一个在线交流的项目，关键是看这个项目是否设计或要求互动。

6. B)。参见The Employer’s View小标题下第三段第一句可知，越来越多的人获得网络教育学位，并在职场中使用这样的学位，雇主对他们所受教育的质量也开始更加信任了。

7. C)。参见文章最后一段可知，公司或企业渴望在员工身上找到的恰恰是自我激励和遵守纪律的品质。

8. development staff。参见Evaluating the Program小标题下第三个需要注意的问题的“A school that is dedicated to its online programs will have the development staff and the support staff to make it successful.”一句可以得出答案。

9. straightforward。参见Evaluating the Program小标题下第四个需要注意的问题的“This reputation, however, may not be as straightforward as you think.”一句可以得出答案。

10. adult students。参见Evaluating the Program小标题下最后一个需要注意的问题的“Students, particularly adult students, learn more by doing than by simply listening.”一句可以得出答案。

Passage V

Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ and ［D］. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage。

Animals on the Move

It looked like a scene from “Jaws” but without the dramatic music. A huge shark was lowly swimming through the water, its tail swinging back and forth like the pendulum of a clock。 Suddenly sensitive nerve ending in the shark’s skin picked up vibrations of a struggling fish. The shark was immediately transformed into a deadly, efficient machine of death. With muscles taut, the shark knifed through the water at a rapid speed. In a flash the shark caught its victim, a large fish, in its powerful jaws. Then, jerking its head back and forth, the shark tore huge chunks of flesh from its victim and swallowed them. Soon the action was over。

Moving to Survive

In pursuing its prey, the shark demonstrated in a dramatic way the important role of movement, or locomotion, in animals。

Like the shark, most animals use movement to find food. They also use locomotion to escape enemies, find a mate, and explore new territories. The methods of locomotion include crawling, hopping, slithering, flying, swimming, or walking。

Humans have the added advantage of using their various inventions to move about in just about any kind of environment. Automobiles, rockets, and submarines transport humans from deep oceans to as far away as the moon. However, for other animals movement came about naturally through millions of years of evolution. One of the most successful examples of animal locomotion is that of the shark. Its ability to quickly zero in on its prey has always impressed scientists. But it took a detailed study by Duke University marine biologists S. A. Wainwright, F. Vosburgh, and J. H. Hebrank to find out how the sharks did it. In their study the scientists observed sharks swimming in a tank at Marine land in Saint Augustine, Fla. Movies were taken of the sharks’ movements and analyzed. Studies were also made of shark skin and muscle。 Skin Is the Key

The biologists discovered that the skin of the shark is the key to the animal’s high efficiency in swimming through the water. The skin contains many fibers that crisscross like the inside of a belted radial tire. The fibers are called collagen fibers. These fibers can either store or release large amounts of energy depending on whether the fibers are relaxed or taut. When the fibers are stretched, energy is stored in them the way energy is stored in the string of a bow when pulled tight. When the energy is released, the fibers become relaxed。

The Duke University biologists have found that the greatest stretching occurs where the shark bends its body while swimming. During the body’s back and forth motion, fibers along the outside part of the bending body stretch greatly. Much potential energy is stored in the fibers. This

energy is released when the shark’s body snaps back the other way。

As energy is alternately stored and released on both sides of the animal’s body, the tail whips strongly back and forth. This whip-like action propels the animal through the water like a living bullet。

Source of Energy

What causes the fibers to store so much energy? In finding the answer the Duke University scientists learned that the shark’s similarity to a belted radial tire doesn’t stop with the skin. Just as a radial tire is inflated by pressure, so, too, is the area just under the shark’s collagen “radials”. Instead of air pressure, however, the pressure in the shark may be due to the force of the blood pressing on the collagen fibers。

When the shark swims slowly, the pressure on the fibers is relatively low. The fibers are more relaxed, and the shark is able to bend its body at sharp angles. The animal swims this way when looking around for food or just swimming. However, when the shark detects an important food source, some fantastic involuntary changes take place。

The pressure inside the animal may increase by 10 times. This pressure change greatly stretches the fibers, enabling much energy to be stored。

This energy is then transferred to the tail, and the shark is off. The rest of the story is predictable。

Dolphin Has Speed Record

Another fast marine animal is the dolphin. This seagoing mammal has been clocked at speeds of 32 kilometers (20 miles) an hour. Biologists studying the dolphin have discovered that, like the shark, the animal’s efficient locomotion can be traced to its skin. A dolphin’s skin is made up in such a way that it offers very little resistance to the water flowing over it. Normally when a fish or other object moves slowly through the water, the water flows smoothly past the body. This smooth flow is known as laminar flow. However, at faster speeds the water becomes more turbulent along the moving fish. This turbulence muses friction and slows the fish down。

In a dolphin the skin is so flexible that it bends and yields to the waviness of the water。 The waves, in effect, become tucked into the skin’s folds. This allows the rest of the water to move smoothly by in a laminar flow. Where other animals would be slowed by turbulent water at rapid speeds, the dolphin can race through the water at record breaking speeds。 Other Animals Less Efficient

Not all animals move as efficiently as sharks and dolphins. Perhaps the greatest loser in locomotion efficiency is the slug. The slug, which looks like a snail without a shell, lays down a slimy trail over which it crawls. It uses so much energy producing the slimy mucus and crawling over it that a mouse traveling the same distance uses only one twelfth as much energy。

Scientists say that because of the slug’s inefficient use of energy, its lifestyle must be restricted. That is, the animals are forced to confine themselves to small areas for obtaining food and finding proper living conditions. Have humans ever been faced with this kind of problem?

1.According to the passage, a shark can use movement to do something

except______________. ［A］to find food

［B］to avoid being chased by its enemies

［C］to find a new place to live ［D］to show its braveness

2.Examples of automobiles, rockets and submarines are used to show that _______________. ［A］humans are the most clever living creatures in the world

［B］human inventions enable us to travel in almost any kind of environment ［C］humans are very successful in inventing transportation tools ［D］humans can’t move like other animals in any circumstances 3.What is the key to the shark’s swift locomotion in water?

［A］The skin ［B］The tail ［C］The muscle ［D］The jaw

4.According to the Duke University scientists, when does the shark stretch its collagen fibers to the greatest extent?

［A］When moving its tail rapidly.

［B］When finding its preys.

［C］When staying without any movement.

［D］When bending its body in swimming.

5.Why is the area just under the shark’s collagen fibers similar to a belted radial tire? ［A］Because it is also full of blood pressure. ［B］Because it is also filled of air pressure. ［C］Because it is also inflated by pressure. ［D］Because it also can be used again and again.

6.A laminar flow is formed when a fish swims________________. ［A］slowly through the water［B］rapidly through the water ［C］against the current ［D］at the fastest speed in water

7.Consuming the equal amount of energy as a slug does, a mouse can travel as long as its______________.

［A］one twelfth times ［B］the same ［C］12 times ［D］1.2 times

8. According to the passage, _______________can be compared to the string of a bow for both of them store energy when stretched.

9. When the shark detects an important food source, __________________________take place.

10. The dolphin’s skin bends and yields to ____________________.

动物的运动

除了缺少剧情音乐之外，这看上去就像《大白鲨》影片中的一个场景：一条巨大的鲨鱼在水中慢慢地游着，尾巴就像时钟的钟摆一样来回地摆动。

突然，它敏感的皮肤神经末梢感受到了猎物游动时发出的震动。瞬间，它就变成一台高效致命的死亡机器。它绷紧肌肉，快速地在水中砍出一条通道。眨眼之间，它便用强有力的嘴巴咬住了它的猎物，一条大鱼。随后，它来回扭动着头，从猎物的身上撕下大块大块的肉，把它们吞了下去。很快地，猎食活动就结束了。 为了生存而移动

鲨鱼追逐猎物的过程以一种夸张的方式证明了移动(或者运动)对于动物的重要作用。 像鲨鱼一样，大部分的动物通过移动来发现食物。他们还利用移动来逃避敌人、寻找配偶、开拓新的 地盘。移动的方法包括：爬行、跳跃、滑行、飞行、飘浮或者漫步。

借助各种有助移动的发明，人类加强了其移动优势，可以再任何环境下移动。汽车、火箭、潜艇能把人类从深海运输到遥远的月亮。然而，对于其他的动物而言，移动来源于数百万年的进化。鲨鱼是其中最成功的例子。它能够以接近零的时间快速地捕获猎物，这给科学家们留下了深刻的印象。但是，经过仔细的研究，美国杜克大学的海洋生物学家S. A. Wainwright、F. Vosburgh和J. H. Hebrank才发现了鲨鱼是如何做到这一点的。在研究中，科学家们对位于佛罗里达州圣奥古斯丁海上乐园泳池中游泳的鲨鱼进行了观察。他们拍摄了鲨鱼的运动情况，对它们进行了分析，同时也对鲨鱼的皮肤和肌肉进行了研究。

皮肤是关键

生物学家们发现，鲨鱼的皮肤是使它们在水中高效游泳的关键。鲨鱼的皮肤中含有许多纤维，像子午线轮胎的内部一样交错在一起。这些纤维被称为胶原纤维。随着它们的放松或拉紧，这些纤维可以储存或释放大量的能量。当拉伸纤维时，纤维中蓄满了能量，就像绷紧的弓弦一样。能量被释放后，纤维就松弛了。

杜克大学的生物学家发现，最大拉伸发生在鲨鱼弯曲身体游泳的时候。当身体前后移动时，弯曲处外侧的纤维受到强烈的拉伸，大量的潜能被储存在纤维中。当鲨鱼朝另一个方向迅速掉头时，这种能量就被释放出来了。

随着能量在鲨鱼身体两侧交替地储存和释放，它的尾巴就像鞭子一样强烈地来回摆动。这种像皮鞭一样的动作促使鲨鱼像发射的子弹一样在水中穿来穿去。 能量的来源

是什么让纤维能存储如此多的能量呢？在追寻答案的过程中，杜克大学的科学家们发现，鲨鱼与子午线轮胎的相似性并不仅仅存在于皮肤上。正如子午线轮胎是由压力膨胀的一样，在鲨鱼胶原辐射处的下方也有一个膨胀区。但是，鲨鱼体内的压力可能来自于血液压缩胶原纤维而产生的压力，而不是来自于空气的压力。

当鲨鱼缓慢游动时，纤维内的压力相对较低。纤维比较松弛时，鲨鱼就能以锐角的角度弯身。在寻找食物或只是游动时，鲨鱼以这种方式进行移动。但是，当它发现重要的食物来源时，一些奇妙的变化就自动发生了。

鲨鱼内部的压力可能会增加10倍，胶原纤维在这种压力下剧烈拉伸，蓄积了大量的能量。

接着，这种能量被转移到尾巴上，鲨鱼快速运动起来，剩下的事情就可想而知了。 海豚是速度最快的纪录保持者

海豚是另一种快速的海洋动物，这种海洋哺乳动物的速度为每小时20英里。研究海豚的生物学家们发现，就像鲨鱼一样，海豚的快速游动可以追溯到其皮肤。海豚的皮肤是这样构成的：它对流过其身体的水流产生的阻力很小。通常情况下，当鱼或其他动物在水中缓慢游动时，水流会平稳地流过它们的身体。这种平稳的水流被称为层流。然而，当鱼快速移动时，其周围的水流就变得湍急起来。这种乱流使摩擦加大，降低了鱼的速度。

海豚的皮肤弹性很大，可以随着水波的波形而弯曲。实际上，水波是被卷进了海豚皮肤的皱褶处。这样，其余的水就以层流的方式从其身边平稳地流过。其他动物快速游动时，由于受到乱流的阻碍，其速度就降低了；但是，海豚却能够以破纪录的速度在水中快速穿行。 其他的低速动物

并不是所有的动物都能像鲨鱼和海豚一样快速地游动。在运动效率方面最大的输家可能是蛞蝓(鼻涕虫)。它看起来就像没有壳的蜗牛，其爬行过的地方会留下一条细细的踪迹。它要使用大量的能量制造粘滑的粘液，以便在其上爬行。移动同样的的距离，老鼠只需要其所耗费能量的十二分之一。

科学家们认为，由于蛞蝓(鼻涕虫)利用能量的效率很低，所以它的生活必然受到一定的。换句话说，它们都被迫把自己束缚在很小的区域之中来搜寻食物和寻找合适的生活条

件。人类曾经面临过这样的问题吗？

【答案解析】 1.【解析】［D］属同义转换题，本题是一种排除选择题。根据题干中的中心词“movement to do something”，可以将答案定位在小标题“Moving to Survive”下第二段的前两句话，“Like the shark, most animals use movement to find food. They also use locomotion to escape enemies, find a mate, and explore now territories”。该句与题干是一种同义转换，选项A、B和C在原文中均有提及，所以不是正确选项；答案D在原文没有提及，所以是正确答案。 2.【解析】［B］属细节推断题。题干考查汽车、火箭和潜艇的例子是为了说明什么，其中的“examples of automobiles, rockets and submarines”是关键词，可以将答案定位在文章小标题“Moving to Survive”下第三段的前两句话，“Humans have the added advantage of using their various inventions to move about in just about any kind of environment. Automobiles, rockets, and submarines transport humans from deep oceans to as far away as the moon”，第二句话所举例子正是为了说明第一句话的内容，这与B项意思一致，而其它选项在文中均未提及。

3.【解析】［A］属细节推断题。分析题干，本题考查鲨鱼在水中快速游动的关键是在什么。其中的“key”是关键词，可以将答案定位在小标题“Skin Is the Key”下首段的第一句话，“The biologists discovered that the skin of the shark is the key to the animal’s high efficiency in swimming through the water”，这与选项A完全一致，所以直接选择A即可。其它选项在文中均有提及，但是都不符合题干的要求。 4.【解析】［D］属细节推断题。题干中的“the Duke University scientists”是关键词，可以将答案定位在小标题“Skin Is the Key”下第二段的第一句话，“The Duke University biologists have found that the greatest stretching occurs where the shark bends its body while swimming”。这与选项D的内容完全一致，所以答案选D项，而其它选项原文均为提及，为干扰项。

5.【解析】［C］属细节推断题。题干中“a belted radial tire”是关键词，可以将答案锁定在文章小标题“Source of Energy”下第一段的第三句话，“Just as a radial tire is inflated by pressure, so, too, is the area just under the shark’s collagen ‘radials’”。其中的“just as”和“so”正说明了两者的相似之处在于“inflated by pressure”，所以答案应该是C。选项A和B是两者的不同之处，选项D在文中没有提及。

6.【解析】［A］属细节推断题。题干中的关键词是“a laminar flow”，所以可以将答案锁定在文章小标题“Dolphin Has Speed Record”下，根据该节第一段的倒数第三、四句话，“Normally when a fish or other object moves slowly through the water, the water flows smoothly past the body. This smooth flow is known as laminar flow。”。题干是对这两句话的改写，所以正确答案是A选项。其它三个选项的意思均不符合“a laminar flow”的定义，与题干要求不符。

7.【解析】［C］属同义转换题。题干中“a slug”和“a mouse”均为关键词，可以直接定位在小标题“Other Animals Less Efficient”下第一段的第二句话，“It uses so much energy ... a mouse traveling the same distance uses only one twelfth as much energy”。题干是对该句的同义改写，所以正确答案是C 12 times，其它选项均与原文内容不符。

8. 【解析】 collagen fibers 在Skin Is the Key中，第二、三句话，The fibers are called collagen fibers。

9. 【解析】some fantastic involuntary changes 在Source of Energy中，第二段倒数第一句话就是本题答案。

10. 【解析】在“Dolphin Has Speed Record”第二段，“In a dolphin the skin is so flexible that it bends and yields to the waviness of the water .”

Passage VI

How Infectious Diseases Work

The human body is both surrounded and inhabited by billions of microorganisms. Most microorganisms are harmless or even beneficial; for example, bacteria that normally live in the digestive system help digest food. Occasionally, however, a microorganism capable of causing a disease invades the body. Diseases caused by such microorganisms are called infectious diseases. Infectious diseases are contagious; that is, they can be passed from one person to another. They can be transmitted by skin contact, through body fluids, in contaminated food or drink, or via airborne particles containing the microorganisms, although the pathways and ease of transmission vary by disease.

Animal or insect bites are another means of transmission. The two most common types of infectious diseases are bacterial infections and viral infections.

Disease-causing, or pathogenic, bacteria either attack the body’s tissues directly or cause damage by secreting poisonous substances called toxins. Fortunately, bacterial infections are often curable. Certain bacteria can be killed by drugs; other bacterial diseases can be prevented by vaccination.

Viruses are the smallest known microorganisms. They are responsible for diseases as relatively harmless as the common cold and as serious as meningitis. Viruses live and reproduce only within living cells, and only certain cells are susceptible to a specific virus. You can be host to many viruses without suffering any adverse effects, but if enough cells are attacked, you will become sick.

There is no effective medical treatment for most viral infections. Because a virus lives inside a cell, any treatment designed to kill the virus is also likely to harm the cell. In addition, there are thousands of different viruses—each one with different properties—and an agent effective against one virus probably will not affect the others. Although there are vaccinations to protect against some viral diseases, therapy for most viral diseases is limited to treating the symptoms.

In this article, we’ll focus on the many facets of infectious diseases, starting with how the body defends against them.

The Body’s Defenses

Despite the prevalence of disease-causing microorganisms, the body is not defenseless against these invaders. The body fights infections in three ways: by preventing the organisms from entering the body, by attacking those that do manage to enter, and by inactivating those organisms it cannot kill.

Sometimes, too, the body fights disease by developing defensive symptoms. Fever is an example. During an illness, the body’s temperature regulator may respond to the illness by raising the body’s temperature. Some researchers believe that this is an effective response because the microorganisms causing the disease may not be able to survive the higher body temperature. The skin is the first barrier that guards the underlying tissues of the body. Where there are natural openings in the skin, there are also defenses. For example, tear glands in the eyes secrete and bathe the eyes with fluid that contains bacteria-fighting components. The salivary glands in

the mouth and the tonsils in the throat help prevent microorganisms from attacking the mouth and throat.

Many openings, as well as internal passages, in the body are lined with mucous membranes. These delicate layers produce mucus, a slippery secretion that moistens and protects by repelling or trapping microorganisms.

Internally, certain body organs fight infection. For instance, the liver and the spleen (a large glandlike organ located in the abdomen) filter out harmful substances from the blood flowing through them. The lining of the stomach produces acids that attack germs in food that has been eaten. The body’s lymph system manufactures white blood cells, which attack and kill invading organisms.

Now let’s get even more specific in our look at the body’s defenses. We’ll start by describing the lymph system.

The Lymph System

The lymph system is a network of vessels that carry lymph, a watery fluid containing white blood cells, throughout the body. Lymph drains from the blood vessels and body tissues, carrying away waste products. The waste products are filtered out of the lymph by small structures called lymph nodes. Within the lymph nodes, harmful microorganisms are trapped, attacked, and destroyed by white blood cells. This is one of the body’s primary and most efficient lines of defense.

Antibodies are manufactured in the lymph system. Antibodies are protective substances that the body produces in response to invasion by a hostile organism or the presence of a foreign substance. Antibodies counteract some invading bacteria and viruses by inactivating them so that they are powerless. Antibodies that neutralize toxins (poisons) produced by bacteria are called antitoxins.

The body’s production of white blood cells and antibodies in response to an invading organism is called the immune reaction. Immunity is the body’s ability to resist an invasion of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Once antibodies have been made to fight a certain type of microorganism, that microorganism usually no longer poses a threat to the body. That is why one attack of a disease often prevents its recurrence down the road. The first attack causes antibodies to be produced, and these antibodies protect the system against future attacks.

There are ways to help the body’s own defenses work. One is immunization, something all of us have experience with.

Immunization

Immunity can be provided artificially by vaccination and other forms of immunization. A vaccine is a preparation containing the offending organism—usually in a weakened form that will not cause the actual disease. When introduced into the body, the vaccine stimulates the body to produce antibodies against the disease. These antibodies often remain in the system for life, and the body is thus prepared to resist the actual disease.

A number of viral diseases can be prevented by immunization. There are vaccines for polio, measles, rubella (German measles), mumps, some strains of influenza, and chicken pox. A vaccine against the organism Hemophilus influenzae also is available. This vaccine prevents the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1. According to the passage, most microorganisms in human body are ________.

A) beneficial

B) harmless or even beneficial C) harmless D) harmful

2. Infectious diseases cannot be transmitted ________.

A) by skin contact B) in contaminated food C) by insect bites

D) through common fluid

3. Some bacterial diseases can be cured by ________. A) drugs

B) vaccination C) toxins D) viruses

4. Viruses live and reproduce ________. A) in microorganisms

B) only within living cells

C) only in living microorganisms D) in cells

5. For most ________, there is no effective medical treatment. A) infections

B) bacterial infections C) viral infections D) infectious diseases

6. How many ways are mentioned in the passage as to how the body fights infections?

A) 2 B) 3

C) 4 D) 5

7. The ________ is the first barrier of the body’s defenses. A) salivary gland B) tear gland C) liver D) skin

8. The lymph system is ________ that carry lymph, a watery fluid containing white blood cells, throughout the body.

9. The immune reaction means the body’s production of white blood cells and antibodies in response to ________.

10. If antibodies have been made to fight a certain type of microorganism, they can protect the system_________.

答案 1. B

2. D 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. C

7. D

8. a network of vessels 9. an invading organism 10. against future attacks