2020-2021年上海市高考英语模拟试卷

第一学期学习能力诊断卷高三英语试卷（满分140分，考试时间120分钟）I.ListeningComprehensionSectionADirections:InSectionA,youwillheartenshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Attheendofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaconversationandthequestionaboutit,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaper,anddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.1.A.Buyingahandbag.B.Tryingonapieceofclothing.C.Takingapicture.D.Attendingafashionshow.2.A.Tothelibrary.B.Totheschool.C.Tothecafeteria.D.Tothecinema.3.A.Makeabudget.B.Buythepainting.C.Decoratethelivingroom.D.Bargainwiththeartdealer.4.A.Shedidn’tgetthepromotion.B.Shedoesn’tlookattractive.C.Sheisnotingoodmood.D.Shecan’tstandfoggydays.5.A.Themanneedstoarriveearlier.B.Thewomanhastoworkovertime.C.Thewomandislikesairtravel.D.Themanwantstosavemoney.6.A.Hehasearnedabigfortune.B.Heisgoodatsaving.C.Hehaslittlemoney.D.Hespendsmoneylikewater.7.A.Hedidn’tattendtheceremony.B.Hetookalotofpreciouspictures.C.Heforgottotakehiscellphone.D.Hisrecordedtheceremonywithhiscamera.8.A.Setadeadlineforthestafftomeet.B.Encouragehisstafftoworkharder.C.Askforaprogressreportontheproject.D.Holdaconversationwithhisemployees.9.A.Hedoesn’tneedavacation.B.Thecompanyisshortofhands.C.Heisafraidoflosingthejob.D.Thebosstoldhimtotakeachance.10.A.Noseatsareavailablenow.B.It’snottherighttimetoenter.C.It’stoodarkforhimtofindtheseat.D.Shecan’tgetinuntiltheinterviewends.SectionBDirections:InSectionB,youwillheartwoshortpassagesandonelongerconversation,andyouwillbeaskedseveralquestionsoneachofthepassagesandtheconversation.Thepassagesandtheconversationwillbereadtwice,butthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaperanddecidewhichonewouldbethebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.Questions11through13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.11.A.Morecheerful.B.Lessstressed.C.Moreresolute.D.Lessattractive.12.A.Tofindouthowclothescanaffectpeople’sfeelings.B.Toshowhowscientistspaymoreattentiontodetails.C.Toprovepeoplemakefewermistakesinlabcoats.D.Totesttheeffectofclothesonpeople’sattention.13.A.Bodymovementschangethewaypeoplethink.B.Howpeopledresscanchangetheirappearance.C.Whatpeoplewearcanaffecttheirperformance.D.Peopledoingdifferentjobsweardifferentclothes.Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingpassage.14.A.Expertswhospecializeinpreventingnaturaldisasters.B.Peopletrainedtorespondtomedicalemergencies.C.Superheroesdevotedtodefendingtheearth.D.Doctorsandnurseswhoprovidemedicalservices.15.A.Decentandpromising.B.Busybutsecure.C.Toughandstressful.D.Demandingbutwell-paid.16.A.Passingaphysicaltrainingprogram.B.GettingacertificateinCPR(心肺复苏术).C.Possessingamedicalschooldiploma.D.Keepingcalminanysituation.Questions17through20arebasedonthefollowingconversation.17.A.18-26.B.27-35.C.36-45.D.46-55.18.A.Jogging.B.Swimming.C.Tennis.D.Cycling.19.A.Launchanewpromotioncampaign.B.Carryoutanothersurvey.C.Increasetheproductionofathleticshoes.D.Holdmoreathleticcompetitions.20.A.Makeproductsmoreappealing.B.Followthetrend.C.Focusonfitnessbusiness.D.Targetoldercustomers.II.GrammarandVocabularySectionADirections:Afterreadingthepassagebelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagecoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.Fortheblankswithagivenword,fillineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useonewordthatbestfitseachblank.Onceuponatime...OnceuponatimetherelivedinGermanytwobrothers.Atschooltheymetawisemanwholedthemtoatreasure—alibraryofoldbookswithtalesmorefascinatingthananytheyhadeverheard.(21)(inspire),thebrothersbegancollectingtheirownstories,listeningtothefolktalespeopletoldthem.Soontheyproducedtheirowntreasure—abookoffairytalesthatwouldcharmmillionsinfarawaylandsforgenerations(22)(come).ThebrothersGrimm,JacobandWilhelm,namedtheirstorycollectionChildren’sandHouseholdTalesandpublisheditinGermanyin1812.Thecollection(23)(translate)intomorethan160languagesuptonow.Thestoriesandtheircharacterscontinuetofeatureinvirtuallyeverymedia:theatre,opera,comicbooks,movies,paintings,rockmusic,advertisingandfashion.SuchfamewouldhaveshockedthemodestGrimms.Duringtheirlifetimesthecollection(24)(sell)fewcopiesinGermany.Theearlyeditionswerenotevenaimedatchildren.Theyhadnoillustrations,andscholarlyfootnotestookupalmostasmuchspaceasthetales(25).JacobandWilhelmGrimmbegantheirworkatatime(26)GermanyhadbeenoccupiedbytheFrenchunderNapoleon.Thenewrulersrestrictedlocalculture.Asyoungscholars,thebrothersGrimmbegantoworkonthefairytalecollectioninordertosavetheendangeredoralstorytellingtraditionofGermany.(27)thebrothersimpliedthattheywerejustkeepingrecordsoftales,Wilhelmcontinuedtopolishandreshapethestoriesuptothefinaleditionof1857.Inanefforttomakethemmoreacceptabletochildrenandtheirparents,hestressedthemoralofeachtaleandemphasizedgenderroles.Tothisday,parentsstillreadthemtotheirchildrenbecausetheyapproveofthelessonsinthestories:keepyourpromises,don’ttalktostrangers,workhard,obeyyourparents.Yet(28)allWilhelm’sadditions,themostimportantpartofthesestorieswasleftuntouched.Thecrueltreatmentofchildrenandtheviolentpunishmentshandedouttothestories’badguysaretoomuchforsomeparents.Sowhataccountsfortheirpopularity?Somehavesuggestedthatitis(29)thecharactersarealwaysstrivingforhappiness.Butthetruthprobablyliesintheirorigin.Grimms’taleswerebornoutofastorytellingtraditionwithoutboundaries(界限)ofageorculture.Thebrothers’skillwastotranslatetheseintoauniversalstyleofwritingthatseemstomirror(30)moodsorinterestswebringtoourreadingofthem.AndsoitwasthattheGrimms’fairytaleslivedhappilyeverafter.SectionBDirections:Completethefollowingpassagebyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.A.distributedB.absolutelyC.infectionsH.specificD.consumeI.originateE.harborJ.respectivelyF.relianceG.potentialK.revealedMicroplasticPollutionInthepastfewyears,scientistshavefoundmicroplasticsinoursoil,tapwater,bottledwater,beerandevenintheairwebreathe.Andthere’sgrowingconcernaboutthe31healthriskstheyposetohumans.ThenewanalysisintheUKhavediscoveredmicroplasticswidely32acrossall10lakesandriverssampled.Morethan1,000smallpiecesofplasticperlitrewerefoundintheRiverTame,whichwas33lastyearasthemostpollutedplacetestedworldwide.EveninrelativelyremoteplacessuchastheFallsofDochartandLochLomondinScotland,twoorthreepiecesperlitrewerefound.Microplasticsarenota34kindofplastic,butratheranytypeofsmallpiecesofplasticthatislessthan5mminlengthaccordingtotheU.S.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration.Theymay35fromavarietyofsources,includingcosmetics,clothing,andindustrialprocesses.Humansareknownto36thetinyplasticparticlesthroughfoodandwater,butthepossiblehealtheffectsonpeopleandecosystemshaveyettobedetermined.Onestudy,inSingapore,hasfoundthatmicroplasticscan37harmfulmicrobes(微生物).ResearchbytheNationalUniversityofSingaporefoundmorethan400typesofbacteriaon275piecesofmicroplasticcollectedfromlocalbeaches.Theyincludedinsectsthatcausegastroenteritis(肠胃炎)andwound38inhumans.“Microplasticsarebeingfound39everywherebutwedonotknowtheharmtheycouldbedoing,”saidChristianDunnatBangorUniversity,Wales,wholedthework.“It’snouselookingbackin20years’timeandsaying:‘Ifonlywe’drealizedjusthowbaditwas.’Weneedtobemonitoringourwatersnowandweneedtothink,asacountryandaworld,howwecanbereducingour40onplastic.”III.ReadingComprehensionSectionADirections:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.Since2008,theaveragelabour-forceparticipationrateof55-to64-year-oldsinOECD(OrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment)countrieshasrisenbyeightpercentagepoints.AnewOECDreport,“WorkingBetterwithAge”,pointsoutthattheemploymentofolderworkersis41,ifprosperityistobemaintained.Thatcanbetakenasasignthatoursocietyisfinally42thevalueofitsolderemployees.Retirementgivesyouthechancetosleeplateandavoidthemorningrushhours.Nolongerdoyouhavetositthroughendlessmeetingsorcheckemailfrequently.Butworkcankeepthemindactiveandgivespeoplea43inlife.Thefirstmonthofretirementmayseempleasant,but44issuretocome.Grandplanstolearnlanguagesandtraveltheworldcanquicklylosetheirappeal.45,thecompanyofcolleaguesprovidesasocialnetwork;spendingallweekathomecanleadtoloneliness.Workinglongershouldbeeasiernowthatmostjobsrequire46,ratherthanmanual,labour.Ofcourse,manypeopleareworkinglongernotbecausetheyenjoywhattheydo,butbecausetheycannotaffordto47.Thatisnotjustbecausegovernmentshavebeenpushingupthestateretirementage.48,theaverageageatwhichpeopleactuallyretirediffersfromtheofficialagebyseveralyears.Inpart,thatisbecausemanypeopledonotrelyonthestatepensionastheironlysourceofincomeandneedwork-relatedpensionstosupplementit.However,companiesaregradually49pensionslinkedtofinalsalarieswith“definedcontribution”schemes.Underthelatter,workersendupwithapotofsavingsatretirementthatneedstobe50.Theincomefromsuchpotshasbeenreducedbyverylowinterestrates.Womentendtohavesmallerretirementpots(thankstotheiryearsspentraisingchildren),makingtheirdifficultiesevenmore51.Theyneedtokeepworking.Olderworkersmayfeel52,particularlywhenitcomestopromotion.Twoissuesseemtohold53back.Thefirstisthatolderworkerstendto54highersalaries,becauseofthesenioritysystem.Thesecondisa55ofskills；oneinthree55-to65-year-oldsinOECDcountrieseitherlackcomputerexperienceorcannotpasstechnologytests.Suchproblemscanberesolvedwithpropertraining,buttheover-55sshouldtakeituponthemselvestokeepupwithtechnologicalchanges.41.A.shortsightedB.vital42.A.recognizingB.assessingC.adequateC.questioningC.lessonD.unnecessaryD.transformingD.purpose43.A.frameB.choice44.A.libertyB.boredomC.priorityD.motivation45.A.HoweverB.InsteadC.ThereforeD.Furthermore46.A.mental47.A.proceedB.simpleB.continueC.physicalC.persistD.routineD.quit48.A.InB.InotherwordsC.InpracticeD.Inparticularconclusion49.A.replacingB.furnishing50.A.registeredB.reinvestedC.increasingC.refundedC.emotionalC.distinguishedC.employeesC.opposeD.combiningD.removedD.practicalD.disadvantagedD.femaleworkersD.ignore51.A.personalB.severe52.A.competitiveB.dominant53.A.employersB.researchers54.A.commandB.ensure55.A.rangeB.disciplineC.shortageD.setSectionBDirections:Readthefollowingthreepassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatfitsbestaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.(A)AgnesdeMillewasadancerandachoreographer(编舞).Earlyinhercareer,deMillehadcreatedthechoreographyforaballetcalledThreeVirginsandaDevil.Shethoughtitwasgoodwork,butnobodymademuchofit.Afewyearslater,deMillechoreographedaballetnamedRodeo.Again,shethoughtherworkwassolid,butitresultedinlittlecommercialfame.Then,in1943,deMillechoreographedOklahoma!,amusicalshowthatenjoyednearlyinstantsuccess.Inthecomingyears,Oklahoma!wouldrunforanincredible2,212performances,botharoundthenationandabroad.In1955,thefilmversionwonanAcademyAward.ButthesuccessofOklahoma!didn’tbringhermuchhappiness.ShethoughtthatherworkonOklahoma!wasonlyaveragecomparedtosomeofherothercreations.Shelatersaid,“AftertheopeningofOklahoma!,IsuddenlyhadunexpectedsuccessforaworkIthoughtwasonlyfairlygood,afteryearsofneglectforworkIthoughtwasfine.Ibegantothinkthatperhapsmyentirescaleofvalueswasuntrustworthy.ItalkedtoMartha.”MarthawasMarthaGraham,perhapsthemostinfluentialdancechoreographerofthe20thcentury.(Althoughnotaswell-knownbythegeneralpublic,GrahamhasbeencomparedtoothercreativegeniuseslikePicassoorFrankLloydWright.)Duringtheirconversation,deMilletoldMarthaGrahamaboutherfrustration.“IconfessedthatIhadaburningdesiretobeexcellent,butnofaiththatIcouldbe.”Grahamrespondedbysaying,“Thereisavitality,alifeforce,anenergy,aquickeningthatistranslatedthroughyouintoaction,andbecausethereisonlyoneofyouinalloftime,thisexpressionisunique.Andifyoublockit,itwillneverexistthroughanyothermediumanditwillbelost.Theworldwillnothaveit.Itisnotyourbusinesstodeterminehowgooditisnorhowvaluablenorhowitcompareswithotherexpressions.Itisyourbusinesstokeepityoursclearlyanddirectly,tokeepthechannelopen.”56.WhatcanbelearnedaboutdeMille’sballetnamedRodeo?A.Itearnedheralargefortune.B.Itmadeherrisetofameovernight.C.Itdidn’tenjoymuchsuccess.D.Itlaidasolidfoundationforhercareer.57.HowdiddeMillefeelaboutthegreatsuccessofthemusicalOklahoma!?A.Relieved.B.Ashamed.C.Confused.D.Proud.58.PicassoandFrankLloydWrightwerementionedinthepassagetosuggestthatMarthaGraham.A.wasoutstandinginvisualartsandarchitectureB.enjoyedthesamepopularityasthemC.hadbeeninfluencedgreatlybythemD.wasthemostinfluentialartistinherfield59.WhichofthefollowingstatementsbestrepresentsGraham’swordsinthispassage?A.Comparingwithotherspreventsyoufrommaintaininguniqueness.B.Youshouldalwayskeepyourselfopentotheurgesthatmotivateyou.C.Youractionrevealstheinnerlandscape,whichisthesoulofmusic.D.Choosingtobepositiveisgoingtodeterminehowyouliveyourlife.(B)Shippingcontainersaregainingpopularityasanalternativetotraditionalhouses.These20-or40-footcontainerscanbeobtainedforalittleasseveralhundredUSdollarsapiece,andit’snotsurprisingthatsomeindustryprofessionalsandevencityplannersconsiderthemthefutureofhomebuilding.Belowaredetailsofsomeamazinghomesmadeoutofshippingcontainers.LondonContainerCity(IandII)London’sContainerCityfirstsprangupintheheartofthedocklandsin2001.Ittookjustfivemonthstocompletetheoriginal12workstudios.Shortlyafterthat,afourthfloorofstudiosandlivingapartmentswasbuiltontopofthese.Thefirstcontainercitywassosuccessfulthatanother—ContainerCityII—wasaddedtoit.AmsterdamKeetwonenLosAngelesRedondoBeachhouseWithitsmodernlinesandappealingspaces,theaward-winningRedondoBeachHouseisaluxurybeachsideshowpiecebuiltfromeightrecycledsteelshippingcontainers,alongwithsometraditionalbuildingmaterials.Accordingtothearchitects,themodifiedcontainersare“nearlyindestructible”.Amsterdam’smassiveKeetwonencomplexhouses1,000studentsanditisthelargestcontainercityintheworld.Thehousingprojectisaroaringsuccessandfeaturesunitsthatarequietandcomfortable.Eachresidentenjoysabathroom,kitchenandseparatesleepingandstudyingquarters.Thecomplexevenhascentralheatingandhigh-speedinternetaswellasareasforparkingbikes.MexicoM2ATKContainerHouseM2ATKdesignedthisuniquecontainerhouseforanartist.It’sfullyequippedwithheatingandcooling,akitchenandbathroom.Onthebottomfloorofthehouseare‘‘publicspaces”suchasthekitchenandlivingroom.Thesecondflooristhebedroom,andthetopfloorisastudiospaceinwhichtowork,readand“letflytheimagination”.60.Comparedtotraditionalhouses,containerhousesare.A.easiertomaintainB.lessexpensivetobuildC.morecomfortabletoliveinD.morefashionableinstyle61.WhatcanbelearnedaboutAmsterdam’sKeetwonencomplex?A.Itisthefirstcontainercityintheworld.B.It’sequippedwithmodernfacilities.C.Itfeaturesaluxuryanduniquestyle.D.Itincludeslivingspaceandcarparks.62.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitlefortheposter?A.RecycledmaterialforIdealHomeB.ShippingContainerHomeChallengesC.HomeinaSteelBoxD.HousingOptionsandSolutions(C)OnAugust29th,asHurricaneDoriantrackedtowardsAmerica’seastcoast,ElonMusk,thebossofTesla,anelectric-carmaker,announcedthatsomeofhiscustomersinthestorm’spathwouldfindthattheircarshadsuddenlydevelopedtheabilitytodrivefartheronasinglebatterycharge.Likemanymodernvehicles,Mr.Musk’sproductsarebestthoughtofasinternet-connectedcomputersonwheels.ThecheapermodelsinTesla’sline-uphavepartsoftheirbatteriesdisabledbythecar’ssoftwareinordertolimittheirrange.AtthetapofakeyboardinPaloAlto,thefirmwasabletoremovethoserestrictionsandgivedriverstemporaryaccesstothefullpoweroftheirbatteries.Mr.Musk’scomputerizedcarsarejustoneexampleofamuchbroadertrend.Ascomputersandconnectivitybecomecheaper,itmakessensetobakethemintomoreandmorethingsthatarenot,inthemselves,computers,creatingan“internetofthings”.Suchaworldwillbringmanybenefits.Consumerswillgetconvenience,andproductsthatcandothingsnon-computerizedversionscannot.Businesseswillgetefficiency,asinformationaboutthephysicalworldthatusedtobeuncertainbecomesconcreteandanalyzable.Inthelongterm,though,themostobviouseffectswillbeinhowtheworldworks.Evermorecompanieswillbecometechcompanies;theinternetwillbecomeeverywhere.Asaresult,aseriesofunresolvedargumentswillspilloverfromthevirtualworldintotherealone.Startwithownership.AsMrMuskshowed,theinternetgivesfirmstheabilitytostayconnectedtotheirproductsevenaftertheyhavebeensold,transformingthemintosomethingclosertoservicesthangoods.Thathasalreadymadethetraditionalideasofownershipunclear.WhenMicrosoftcloseditsebookstoreinJuly,forinstance,itscustomerslosttheabilitytoreadtitlestheyhadbought(thefirmofferedrefunds).Thatshiftsthebalanceofpowerfromthecustomertotheseller.Virtualbusinessmodelswilljarinthephysicalworld.Techfirmsaregenerallyhappytomovefastandbreakthings.Butyoucannotreleasethebetaversion(测试版)ofafridge.Apple,asmartphonemaker,providesupdatesforitsphonesforonlyfiveyearsorsoaftertheirrelease;usersofAndroidsmartphonesareluckytogettwo.Butgoodssuchaswashingmachinesorindustrialmachinerycanhavelifespansofadecadeormore.Firmswillneedtoworkouthowtosupportcomplicatedcomputeriseddeviceslongaftertheiroriginalprogrammershavemovedon.Datawillbeanotherflashpoint.Formuchoftheinternetthebusinessmodelistooffer“free”servicesthatarepaidforwithvaluableuserdata,collectedwithconsent(同意)thatishalf-informedatbest.Inthevirtualworld,argumentsaboutwhatshouldbetracked,andwhoownstheresultingdata,canseemairyandtheoretical.Intherealone,theywillfeelmoreurgent.Predictingtheconsequencesofanytechnologyishard—especiallyoneasuniversalascomputing.Theemergenceoftheconsumerinternet,25yearsago,wasmetwithstarry-eyedoptimism.Thesedaystheinternet’sfaultsdominatetheheadlines.Butthepeoplehavetheadvantageofhavinglivedthroughthefirstinternetrevolution—whichshouldgivethemsomeideaofwhattoexpect.63.FromthepassagewecantellthatTeslacan.A.drivefasterthanusualinextremeweatherB.adjusttherangeofitsbatterypowerC.chargethebatteryatthetapofakeyboardD.operatewhenthebatteryisfullydrained64.WhichofthefollowingisNOTanexampleofthe“unresolvedarguments”mentionedinthepassage?A.Earlyadoptersofcertainappsfindthattheyceasedtoworkafterthefirmlostinterest.B.Theinsurancecompanyusesdatafromfitnesstrackerstoadjustcustomers’premiums(保费).C.Computerizedmachinerycan’tpredictitsbreakdownsorschedulepreventivemaintenance.D.Ahigh-techfridgecompanyrestrictsitscustomersfromrepairingtheirfridgesthemselves.65.Theunderlinedwordjarprobablymeansinthiscontext.A.boomB.conflictC.vanishD.expand66.Thispassageismainlyabout.A.howtheworldwillchangeascomputersspreadintoeverydayobjectsB.theadoptionofelectricvehiclesandthepossibleproblemstoexpectC.whatshouldbedonetopreventthebreakdownofcomputerizeddevicesD.differentviewsonthecurrentapplicationofInternetTechnologySectionCDirections:Readthefollowingpassage.Fillineachblankwithapropersentencegiveninthebox.Eachsentencecanbeusedonlyonce.Notethattherearetwomoresentencesthanyouneed.A.Creativityisassociatedwithmanyfactors.B.Rather,theyshouldworktoexpand,grow,andexerciseit.C.Withoutcreativity,weareindistinguishablefromthemasses.D.However,creativitycanbeacquiredatanyage.E.It’shardtoworkoutwhereexactlycreativitycomesfrom.F.Everyonehasthecapacitytobecreative.EssentialCreativityInarecentsurveyinAmerica,62%ofpeoplesaidthatcreativitywasmoreimportanttosuccessintheworkplacethantheyhadanticipateditwouldbewhentheywereinschool.(67)Itisofcoursepossibletoscanpeople’sbrainsandseewhichpartsarefiringwhenanideaiscreated,butrathermoreromanticallyitcanbethoughtofassomethingthatcannotbeidentified.Creativityiswhatcomestoyouwhenyouleastexpectit.Youcannotdemandcreativityfromyourmind,norcanyoudemandthatyouarecreativeinaparticularway.Onemisconceptionaboutcreativityisthatitisreservedforafewspecialpeople.Thisisnottrue.(68)misconceptionisthatcreativityisallabouttheartsbutthisAnothersimplyisn’ttrue:creativityextendstomathsandscienceinjustthewayitdoestomusicandliterature.Thosewhoseethingsdifferentlytoothersandareconfidentenoughtomaketheirideasarealityaretheoneswhomakethegreatestchangesintheworld.Consequently,itisincrediblyimportantthatschoolsdonotpreventcreativity.(69)Studentsshouldbetaughttoaskquestionsandinvestigatewhenthingsdonotmakesense.Theyneedtolearntoviewmistakesasopportunitiesforlearningratherthansomethingthatwasunsuccessful.Itisworryingthatmanyschoolsarelessconcernednowwithnurturingcreativitywhenthisisthemostimportanttimeinhistoryforit.Itusedtobethatpeopleworkedhard,wenttouniversity,andgotajob.Thatwasit.Butnow,everyoneworkshard,goestouniversity—andtherearen’tthejobsouttherethatguaranteeasafefuture.(70)Wecanuseittosetourselvesapart,andchannelittofacethechallengesofthefuture.IV.SummaryWritingDirections:Readthefollowingpassage.Summarizethemainideaandthemainpoint(s)ofthepassageinnomorethan60words.Useyourownwordsasfaraspossible.TheDeclineofBiodiversityBiodiversityistherangeoflivingthingsinanarea.Duringthelast100years,scientistshaveseenagreatdeclineinbiodiversity.Somestudiesshowthatoneineightplantspeciesisthreatenedwithextinction.Itisestimatedthat140,000speciesofplantsarelosteachyear.Mostoftheextinctionsinthelastthousandyearsareduetohumans.Themaincauseisthechoppingdownoftropicalrainforests.Mostofthisdestructionisdonetocreatepasture(牧场)forbeefcattle.ManyrainforestsinCentralandSouthAmericahavebeenburntdowntomakewayforcattlefarming,whichsuppliesbeeftotherestoftheworld.Itisestimatedthatforeachpoundofbeefproduced,200squarefeetofrainforestaredestroyed.Theforestsarealsocutdowntomakewheatforbreadaswellasfruitforhumanconsumption.Theintroductionofexotic(外来的)speciesisanotherthreat.ThelatestresearchfromtheUniversityofSouthamptonhasrevealedtheimpactofexoticspeciesuponnativewildlife,whichcouldpotentiallyleadtotheextinctionsoflocalspecies.Whenexoticspeciesareintroducedtoaplace,theytrytoestablishaself-sustainingpopulation.Whilethelocalspecies,whichhaven’thadachancetoevolve,oftenlackdefensesandthuscannotcompeteagainsttheexoticspecies.Thedisappearanceofcertainfoodanimalscanbedisastrousnotonlytolargeranimalsbutalsototheentireecosystem.Itisthesesmallcreatureswhichconvertmuchoftheenergyinanecosystemfromunusable(i.e.microscopicplants,decayingmatter,etc.)intousableforms,namelytheirbodies.Theirabsencemakesmostenergyandnutrientstrappedinformsunusabletootherspecies.Thismakestheenvironmentlesssuitableforhealthyliving,andlesscapableofproducingresourcesthathumansneed.