Part II Reading Comprehension (40%)

　　Section A

　　Directions: There are 3 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and write the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.(30%)

　　Passage One

　　Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:

　　Rising global carbon dioxide levels tied to global warming may not be as crucial in determining the composition of plant communities as other, localized climate changes.

　　“Nobody really knows what the increases in carbon dioxide are going to entail in terms of future changes in vegetation types,” said Mark Brenner, a University of Florida assistant professor of paleontology, the study of ancient lakes. “It looks like climate changes in different areas may be more important than carbon dioxide, at least carbon dioxide by itself,” he said.

　　Brenner’s research team based their conclusions on an analysis of sediment from two lake bottoms, one in northern Mexico and one in northern Guatemala. The researchers used new techniques that allowed them to analyze only the remains of land plants, specifically their leaf waxes. By measuring the composition of the leaf waxes, the researchers were able to distinguish two broad categories of plants living in these areas --- so-called C3 and C4 plants, which have different photosynthetic processes. Many C4 plants are tropical grasses, while most tropical trees are C3 plants. The researchers analyzed sediments deposited over the last 27,000 years, from the last ice age to the current geological period. Over this period, there was a worldwide, relatively uniform increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

　　Brenner said that if carbon dioxide played the major role in determining plant composition, one would assume that analysis of the sediments would reveal very similar changes in relative abundance of C3 and C4 plants in the two places over the study period. But, in fact, the researchers found that trends in the two types of plants were different at the two locations. The changes were related not with carbon dioxide levels, but with shifts in rainfall. “The result appears to be that climate factors, especially moisture availability, determine whether C4 or C3 plants dominate in an area, not carbon dioxide,” Brenner said.

　　Many scientists believe global warming will cause major variation in local climates worldwide, with some wet areas becoming dry and dry areas becoming wet. If that happens, it could have more impact on relative C3 versus C4 plant distribution than the rising carbon dioxide levels.

　　11. What can be inferred in the first paragraph?

　　A). Climate changes are more important to the composition of plant communities than rising global carbon dioxide.

　　B). Localized climate shifts may not be as crucial as carbon dioxide.

　　C). Nobody knows which one is important.

　　D). Carbon dioxide levels is crucial to the global warming.

　　12. What is Mark Brenner?

　　A). He studies co-author’s opinion.

　　B). He is assisting the University of Florida.

　　C). He is an expert in the field of ancient lakes.

　　D). His research team composed of six geologists and geographers.

　　13. According to the third paragraph, which one is NOT true?

　　A). Tropical grasses are usually C4 plants.

　　B). C3 and C4 plants used to live in northern Mexico and Guatemala.

　　C). C3 and C4 plants don’t have the same processes.

　　D). Tropical trees are all C3 plants.

　　14. Why, in the 4th paragraph, the researchers found that trends in C3 and C4 plants were different at the two locations?

　　A). The assumption that carbon dioxide played the major role is wrong.

　　B). The carbon dioxide played an important role.

　　C). The moisture availability was different.

　　D). The carbon dioxide level was different.

　　15. What’s the main idea of the passage?

　　A). Climates factors determine the plant distribution and composition of plant communities.

　　B). Global warming will cause major variation.

　　C). How has Brenner’s research team proved a truth.

　　D). C3 and C4 plants are important plants in determining the composition of plant communities.

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

　　Between about 1910 and 1930, new artistic movements in European art were making themselves felt in the United States. American artists became acquainted with the new art on their trips to Paris and at the exhibitions in the famous New York gallery "291" (named after its address on Fifth Avenue) of the photographer Alfred Stieglitz. But most important in the spread of the modern movements in the United States was the sensational Armory Show of 1913 held in New York, in which the works of many of the leading European artists were seen along with the works of a number of progressive American painters.

　　Several of the American modernists who were influenced by the Armory Show found the urban landscape, especially New York, an appealing subject. Compared with the works of the realist painters, the works of American modernists were much further removed from the actual appearance of the city; they were more interested in the "feel" of the city, more concerned with the meaning behind appearance. However, both the painters of the "Ash Can School" and the later realists were still tied to nineteenth century or earlier styles, while the early modernists shared in the international breakthroughs of the art of the twentieth century.

　　The greatest of these breakthroughs was Cubism, developed most fully in France between 1907 and 1914, which brought about a major revolution in Western painting. It overturned the rational tradition that had been built upon since the Renaissance (文化復(fù)興)- In Cubism, natural forms were broken down analytically into geometric shapes. No longer was a clear differentiation made between the figure and the background of a painting: the objects represented and the surface on which they were painted became one. The Cubists abandoned the conventional single vantage (優(yōu)越的地位) point of the viewer, and objects depicted from multiple viewpoints were shown at the same

　　16. With what topic is the passage primarily concerned?

　　A) The development of Cubism.

　　B) Modern art movements in the United States.

　　C) Contemporary artists in the United States.

　　D) The influence of photography on landscape painters.

　　17. It can be inferred from the passage that European art trends probably affected United States' art most during which of the following years?

　　A) 1901. B) 1908.

　　C) 1913. D) 1936.

　　18. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a means through which American artists learned about new movements?

　　A) Lessons from successful artists.

　　B) The exhibitions at the gallery "291".

　　C) Trips to Europe.

　　D) The Armory Show of 1913.

　　19. Why does the author mention Alfred Stieglitz?

　　A) To demonstrate that photography was the major influence in modern art.

　　B) To compare him with other artists of the time.

　　C)To point out that many artists learned their craft by studying with him.

　　D) To give an example of someone who had an influence on modern art.

　　20. According to the author, which of the following was a favorite subject for American modernists?

　　A) Portraits of famous people. B) Country scenes.

　　C) Pictures of buildings' interiors. D) City landscapes.