Reading Comprehension
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。

     The threat of global outbreak （疾病大爆发）of bird flu makes it urgent for the international community to cooperate effectively. Wealthy countries will have to provide hundreds of millions of dollars for the testing and production of medicines necessary for treating patients suffering from bird flu. Developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the bird flu virus（病毒） has spread since 1997, must work out special programs so that farmers will not hide signs of possible outbreaks. In addition, the way such farm birds as chickens and ducks are traditionally raised and marketed in the developing world should be changed; there should be more distance between the birds and their keepers. Countries should deal with the disease with joint effort. If one country is inadequately prepared, it will be a threat to every other country.
     The potential effects of a national outbreak of bird flu are enormous. Firstly, an outbreak may kill large numbers of people. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that an outbreak similar to the mild Hong Kong flu of 1968 could kill as many as 7.4 million people. If it were as dangerous as the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed 50 million, the number would be much higher. Secondly, such an outbreak may cause great financial damage. The latest outbreak of bird flu, which began in December 2003, has cost Southeast Asia more than $10 billion and depressed its GDP by 1.5 percent. If a new outbreak of bird flu were to last for a whole year, $800 billion would be lost.
     Despite the 124 human cases and 63 deaths from bird flu since December 2003, the virus remains mainly a disease of animals. However, the more animals that die of the disease, the more chances it has of spreading to people. Large numbers of dead or dying birds mean that more people will be exposed to the virus, which could in theory combine with a human flu virus and change into a virus with new characteristics. If the international community works together efficiently, man can surely prevent such a virus and possibly save millions of lives.

Reading Comprehension

从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。  

    It was nine o'clock in the evening when my stomach began to growl and complain of emptiness. There's a Subway Sandwich Shop on the corner of our street, and the cool nights here in Arizona make it an enjoyable ten minute walk. We live on the outer edge of Tucson, and people that live in the desert go to bed early.
     Stepping inside the sandwich shop it pleases me to realize that the lone customer is me. A young employee, Randy, is sitting behind the counter reading a book. He glances up from his reading, and seems to be mildly annoyed by my presence.
     I' m right in the middle of explaining to Randy what type of roll I want for my turkey sub（长形汉堡） when man with shotgun bursts through the door. He must really be hungry. He waves the shotgun in the general direction of Randy and demands money instead. Didn't this guy see the ATM machine over in the corner? He must be too hungry to notice.
     Randy is starting to sweat heavily and shaking. He empties the register, and is attempting to hand the cash to the gunman. Then the gunman swings the shotgun in my direction as if noticing me for the first time. It can be irritating when nobody pays attention to you. He hits me in the stomach with the shotgun causing my breath to take leave of my body. In the next moment I'm on my hands and knees as if inspecting the floor, which doesn't seem particularly clean. During my extensive examination of the floor, the gunman has made his escape. Randy calls 911 and shouts over the counter to inquire about my condition. His concern for my welfare is touching, but I'm disappointed that he doesn't ask if I want cheese on my sub.
     I'm breathing normally by the time the police arrive, but my stomach hurts. The next hour is spent giving statements, declining medical treatment, and devouring my long awaited sub. My buddy Randy gave me the sandwich for free, but the turkey was dry. The police gave me a ride back to the house, and it was nice not to be in cuffs（手铐） this time.

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
     Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities. If a child has good parents, he is well fed, looked after and loved. It is unlikely that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well known. A child finds pleasure in playing in the rain, or in the snow. His first visit to the seaside is a marvelous adventure. But a child has his pains: he is not so free to do as he wishes as he thinks older people are; he is continually being told what to do and what not to do. Therefore, a child is not happy as he wishes to be.
     When the young man starts to earn his own living, he becomes free from the discipline of school and parents; but at the same time he is forced to accept responsibilities. With no one to pay for his food, his clothes, or his room, he has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the law of his parents, he may get himself into trouble. If, however, he works hard, goes by the law and has good health, he may feel satisfied in seeing himself make steady progress in his job and in building up for himself his own position in society.
     Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be; but it is not necessary for the old to be unhappy. With old age comes wisdom and the ability to help others with advice wisely given. The old can have the joy of seeing their children making progress in life; they can watch their grandchildren growing up around them; and, perhaps best of all, they can, if their life has been a useful one, feel the happiness of having come through the battle of life safely and of having reached a time when they can lie back and rest, leaving everything to others.

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an examination that American high school students take before they go to college. The SAT is open to anyone who pays a $25 fee, and parents are having their kids take it at younger and younger ages—for practice, and for a chance to get into programs for gifted children at universities like Johns Hopkins. More than 172,000 students in the eighth grade or lower took SAT or ACT college entrance exams last year, up 19% since 1996.
     Donna Coughlin, who is in charge of the SAT in Winnetka, Illinois, says the wave in young test takers makes for a terrible day. Young kids ask endless questions, do more restlessness, need more bathroom breaks and are more apt to throw up(呕吐).
     Much of the SAT's material isn't taught until high school, so younger children often score poorly. Critics say giving the test so early weakens the confidence of insecure kids and creates competitive students who focus not on learning but on mastering standardized tests.
     Those who favor early testing say it allows bright students to see how far beyond grade level they are, so their learning can be adjusted. And some bright kids enjoy the challenge. "It gives them terrific experience at test taking“, says Susan Grant, whose son first tried the SAT in the sixth grade and now attends Harvard.
     There's even a practice run for young test takers. To join "gifted" programs, students in grades 3 through 6 can take an ACT designed for eighth-graders. It's not for my kids, though. They have cartoons to watch, CDs to play, childhoods to live.

阅读选择
阅读下面短文，请从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出一个最佳选项。

     There were many different cultures in the ancient world, but the two that had the most influence on European and American civilizations were the Greek and the Roman. Often these two cultures are lumped together in our minds, as if they were really exactly alike. But that is not the case. In many ways the Greeks and the Romans could not have been more different.
     The Greeks were truly democratic, often without a single leader but instead governed by a group of men chosen by the people. The Romans were semi-democratic. They had a governing Senate, but the political power was mostly or completely in the hands of a single emperor.
     Both cultures were great builders. But the construction interests of the two cultures were also different. The Greeks tended to be more artistic. Their buildings were well constructed and they were especially interested in temples, columns, and decorative forms. The Romans, on the other hand, were more engineers than artists. They concentrated their efforts on urban planning, well-functioning water pipes, and the best roads.
     Only in cooking and eating habits are the two cultures really similar. Both peoples ate very well indeed: lots of fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy meals, holding at the same time long discussions and tasting excellent wines.
     In fact, it would probably be fair to say that they both loved life in their warm, sea-oriented climates, and they both lived a full life.

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     College-bound American high school students usually have some combination of parents, teachers, guidance counselors, or peers to support them in the tough process of applying to and beginning college. Unfortunately, adults who want to go to college—particularly adults who have been out of school for a long time—generally have no such support system. "Adults have a much harder time starting out in college because, unlike regular students, they have adult obligations—raising children and working full time—that often conflict with the demands of school," says Deepa Rao, a World Education expert. "Also, adults who have been out of school for a long time may not be academically prepared for college-level work. Some have little exposure to technologies like e-mail and Internet research, which are an increasing part of college communication and courses. They may be unaware of available resources, such as financial aid, tutoring centers or mentoring programs, and may be unfamiliar with terms such as 'bursar' and 'prerequisite.' And if you don't know where to begin or what to do once you do get there, it's easy to get overwhelmed and simply give up.''
     The challenges that working adults face when going to college inspired Deepa to develop a web page and website as part of World Education's National College Transition Network (NCTN), an online forum for technical assistance, news, and helpful resources for educators, policy makers, and others interested in adult learning. The new website is a counterpart(对应物) to the NCTN, set up to guide adults who are considering college through the process of applying to and succeeding in school.
     The website is arranged like a college campus, with 'buildings' representing the sort of departments and classrooms housed on a college campus. Each building contains 'classes' that describe the admissions process, where to look for grants and scholarships, and lists resources, where an out-of-practice student can review reading, writing, and math. There are also lists of advice and resources to help students with their college life. Another helpful aspect of this interactive, multimedia site is its audio capacity: all texts can be read to the visitor. This particular feature is especially helpful for people with visual problems or learning disabilities.
     The cycle of learning runs from cradle to grave, and World Education works to break down barriers to education for people of all ages, all over the world. 

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     Yoshio and Hiromi Tanaka are a young Japanese couple living in the USA while Yoshio studies electrical engineering. They clearly love each other very deeply, but, says Yoshio, “We didn't marry for love in the Western sense. We got married in the time-honored Japanese way. Our parents arranged our marriage through a matchmaker. In Japan we believe that marriage is something that affects the whole family, not just the young couple concerned. So we think it is very important to match people according to their social background, education and so on. Matchmakers are usually middle-aged women who keep lists of suitable young people with information about their families, education and interests. When our parents thought it was time for us to get married they went to a local matchmaker and asked her for some suggestions. We discussed the details and looked at the photos she sent, and then our parents asked her to arrange a ‘marriage interview’ for the two of us.”
     A Japanese marriage interview is held in a public place, such as a hotel or restaurant, and is attended by the boy and the girl, their parents and the matchmaker. Information about the couple and the couple and their families is exchanged over a cup of tea and a meal. Then the boy and the girl are left alone for a short time to know each other. When they return home they have to tell the matchmaker whether they want to meet again or not. If both of them want a second meeting, the matchmaker arranges it, and after that they can decide whether to carry on the courtship themselves. Here Hiromi said with a gentle smile, "Not so long ago, the girl could never refuse to go out again with a boy who liked her, but now she can. I thought Yoshio was really nice, so I didn’t refuse.”
     Yoshio continued: “When our parents realized we were serious about each other, they started to make arrangements for our wedding. My family paid the ‘Yuino’ money to Hiromi’s. This money is to help pay for the wedding ceremony and for setting up house afterwards. We also gave her family a beautiful ornament to put in the best room of their house, so everyone knew that Hiromi was going to marry. Six months after our first meeting we were married. A traditional Japanese wedding is a wonderful ceremony, and our traditional custom of arranged marriage has given me a wonderful wife.”

阅读选择：阅读下面短文，请从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出一个最佳选项。

     One day, the principal came into our room and, after talking to the teacher, for some reason said: “I wish all of the white scholars to stand for a moment.” I rose with the others. The teacher looked at me and, calling my name, said: “You sit down for the present, and rise with the others.” I did not quite understand her. She repeated: “You sit down now, and rise with the others.” I sat down puzzled and dumb. I saw and heard nothing. When the others were asked to rise, I did not know it. When school was dismissed, I went out unconsciously. A few of the white boys laughed at me, saying “Oh, you’re a nigger, too.”
     I hurried on as fast as I could to where my looking — glass hung on the wall in my own little room. For an instant I was afraid to look, but when I did, I looked long and earnestly. I was accustomed to hearing remarks about my beauty; but now, for the first time, I became conscious of it and recognized it. I noticed the ivory （象牙） whiteness of my skin, the beauty of my mouth, the size and liquid darkness of my eyes. I ran downstairs and rushed to where my mother was sitting. I buried my head in her lap and cried out：“Mother, tell me, am I a nigger?” I could not see her face, but I felt her hands on my head. I looked up into her face. There were tears in her eyes and I could see that she was suffering for me. And then it was that I looked at her critically for the first time. I had thought of her in a childish way only as the most beautiful woman in the world； now I looked at her searching for defects. I could see that her skin was almost brown, and that she did differ in some way from the other ladies who came to the house; yet, even so I could see that she was more beautiful than any of them. She must have felt that I was examining her, for she hid her face in my hair and said with difficulty: “No, my darling, you are not a nigger.” She went on: “If anyone calls you a nigger, don’t notice them.” But the more she talked, the less was I reassured, and I stopped her by asking: “Well, mother, am I white? Are you white?” She answered tremblingly: “No, I am not white, but your father is one of the greatest men in the country. The best blood of the South is in you.” This suddenly opened up in my heart a fresh fear, and I almost fiercely demanded: “Who is my father? Where is he?” She stroked my hair and said: “I’ll tell you about him some day.” I sobbed: “I want to know now.” She answered: “No, not now.”

阅读选择：阅读下面短文，请从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出一个最佳选项。

     Gene therapy and gene-based drugs are two ways we would benefit from our growing mastery of genetic science. But there will be others as well. Here is one of the remarkable therapies on the cutting edge of genetic research that could make their way into mainstream medicine in the coming years.
     While it’s true that just about every cell in the body has the instructions to make a complete human, most of those instructions are inactivated, and with good reason: the last thing you want for your brain cells is to start churning out stomach acid or your nose to turn into a kidney. The only time cells truly have the potential to turn into any and all body parts is very early in a pregnancy, when so-called stem cells haven’t begun to specialize.
     Yet this untapped potential could be a terrific boon to medicine. Most diseases involve the death of healthy cells—brain cells in Alzheimer’s, cardiac cells in heart disease, pancreatic cells in diabetes, to name a few; if doctors could isolate stem cells, then direct their growth, they might be able to furnish patients with healthy replacement tissue.
     It was incredibly difficult, but last fall scientists at the University of Wisconsin managed to isolate stem cells and get them to grow into neural, gut, muscle and bone cells. The process still can’t be controlled, and may have unforeseen limitations; but if efforts to understand and master stem-cell development prove successful, doctors will have a therapeutic tool of incredible power.
     The same applies to cloning, which is really just the other side of the coin; true cloning, as first shown, with the sheep Dolly two years ago, involves taking a developed cell and reactivating the genome within, resetting its developmental instructions to a pristine state. Once that happens, the rejuvenated cell can develop into a full-fledged animal, genetically identical to its parent.
     For agriculture, in which purely physical characteristics like milk production in a cow or low fat in a hog have real market value, biological carbon copies could become routine within a few years. This past year scientists have done for mice and cows what Ian Wilmut did for Dolly, and other creatures are bound to join the cloned menagerie in the coming year.
     Human cloning, on the other hand, may be technically feasible but legally and emotionally more difficult. Still, one day it will happen. The ability to reset body cells to a pristine, undeveloped state could give doctors exactly the same advantages they would get from stem cells: the potential to make healthy body tissues of all sorts, and thus to cure disease. That could prove to be a true “miracle cure”.

Reading Comprehension
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。

     It is often said that politeness costs nothing. In fact, it seems that little more politeness could save businesses £5 billion every year. Frequently hearing the phrase "thank you" or "well done"means the same to staff as a modest pay rise.
     Praise and encouragement also makes employees more likely to work hard and stay in their jobs. In this way the business companies can save the cost of finding new employees. A third of 1,000 workers surveyed by a consulting firm said they did not get thanked at all when they did well—and a further third said they were not thanked enough. In both cases, staff said they felt undervalued, meaning they were less likely to exert themselves and were more likely to look for employment elsewhere.
     The result of the survey shows that there would be around £5.2 billion loss in productivity if the employees felt less appreciated. According to the firm, praising staff has the same positive effect as a 1 per cent pay rise—and works out much cheaper for bosses. Three out of four employees said that regular acknowledgement by their bosses was important to them, but only a quarter said they were actually given as much praise as they felt they needed.
     The survey found that those in blue-collar and manual jobs were less likely to be given any recognition for doing well. But it seems that they most need such praise.
     In regional terms, Scottish staff felt most undervalued. Four out of ten workers said they were never thanked and eight out of ten said they would like more praise. However, workers in the North-East are less impressed by being praised by the boss, as only 69 per cent said they felt the need to be told "well done" regularly. Older employees and women need the most reassurance, according to psychologist Averil Leimon. She said that words of praise did more than creating a pleasant place to work—they could even promote profits.  

Reading Comprehension
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。

     The question of whether dogs have a sense of humour is often fiercely argued. My own opinion is that some have and some haven’t. Dachshunds have, but not St Bernards or Great Danes. Apparently a dog has to be small to be fond of joke. You never find a Great Dane trying to be a comedian.
     But it is fatal to let any dog know that he is funny, for he immediately loses his head and starts overdoing it. As an example of this I would point to Rudolph, a dachshund I once owned, whose slogan was ”Anything for a Laugh”. Dachshunds are always the worst offenders in this respect because of their peculiar shape. It is only natural that when a dog finds that his mere appearance makes the viewing public laugh, he should imagine nature intended him to be a comedian.
     I had a cottage at the time outside an English village, not far from a farm where they kept ducks, and one day the farmer called on me to say his ducks were disappearing and suspicion had fallen on my Rudolph. Why? I asked, and he said because mine was the only dog in the neighbourhood except his own Towser and Towser had been so carefully trained that he would not touch a duck even if you brought it to him with orange sauce over it.
     I was very annoyed. I said he only had to gaze into Rudolph’s truthful brown eyes to see how baseless were his suspicions. Had he not, I asked, heard of foxes? How much more likely that a fox was the Bad Guy in the story. He was beginning to look doubtful and seemed about to make an apology, when Rudolph, who had been listening with interest and at a certain point had left the room, came trotting（小跑） in with a duck in his mouth.
     Yes, dachshunds overplay their sense of humour, and I suppose other dogs have their faults, but they seem unimportant compared with their virtues.

Reading Comprehension
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。

     No one in my family could believe Allegra had any disability, much less one as severe as hers. To them a disability was physical, something you could see. They knew her as a happy, normal child. That's how it is with a learning disability—you don't see obvious physical symptoms.
     But as she grew out of preschool, she would pretend to read—I knew she was pretending because the book was upside down. She withdrew into her own world where she could fantasize about being a ballet dancer, a Broadway actress or a figure skater. In the real world, ballet classes and music lessons led only to confusion, frustration and, ultimately, disappointment.
     As for school, there was no way she could be included in a mainstream classroom. I went through every special school in New York, only to be told over and over: "She doesn't belong here." The last blow came a few months after the diagnosis, when I was at a pay phone on 72nd Street, waiting for an answer from the very last school on my list. Finally a cold voice came on—I can still hear it—and said: "I’m sorry, but we feel this isn't the place for her." I hung up and stared at the phone in tears.
     I had lived my life as the daughter of Henry Ford Ⅱ, and for the first time in my life I faced a problem that neither money nor position could solve. I nearly gave up, but I knew I couldn't. Without me, my daughter stood no chance of making it.

Reading Comprehension

从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。  

    It was nine o'clock in the evening when my stomach began to growl and complain of emptiness. There's a Subway Sandwich Shop on the corner of our street, and the cool nights here in Arizona make it an enjoyable ten minute walk. We live on the outer edge of Tucson, and people that live in the desert go to bed early.
     Stepping inside the sandwich shop it pleases me to realize that the lone customer is me. A young employee, Randy, is sitting behind the counter reading a book. He glances up from his reading, and seems to be mildly annoyed by my presence.
     I' m right in the middle of explaining to Randy what type of roll I want for my turkey sub（长形汉堡） when man with shotgun bursts through the door. He must really be hungry. He waves the shotgun in the general direction of Randy and demands money instead. Didn't this guy see the ATM machine over in the corner? He must be too hungry to notice.
     Randy is starting to sweat heavily and shaking. He empties the register, and is attempting to hand the cash to the gunman. Then the gunman swings the shotgun in my direction as if noticing me for the first time. It can be irritating when nobody pays attention to you. He hits me in the stomach with the shotgun causing my breath to take leave of my body. In the next moment I'm on my hands and knees as if inspecting the floor, which doesn't seem particularly clean. During my extensive examination of the floor, the gunman has made his escape. Randy calls 911 and shouts over the counter to inquire about my condition. His concern for my welfare is touching, but I'm disappointed that he doesn't ask if I want cheese on my sub.
     I'm breathing normally by the time the police arrive, but my stomach hurts. The next hour is spent giving statements, declining medical treatment, and devouring my long awaited sub. My buddy Randy gave me the sandwich for free, but the turkey was dry. The police gave me a ride back to the house, and it was nice not to be in cuffs（手铐） this time.

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     We all know that humans are damaging the environment, but what can we do about it? Some people are trying to do their bit to be more environmentally friendly.
     Local councils in Britain encourage certain aspects of green living, such as recycling paper, tin, plastic and glass. They want to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfill sites(填埋场), because they are running out of places to dump (倾倒) rubbish. In some areas rubbish for recycling is collected from your doorstep, but in other areas, you have to take it to a special recycling place, such as a bottle bank.
     Another way of reducing the amount of rubbish you create is to use reusable products instead of disposable ones. For example, some people use strong shopping bags or boxes for their groceries instead of plastic carrier bags, or use washable nappies instead of disposables.
     More people are becoming interested in reducing their carbon footprint—the amount of carbon they use up. They try to reduce their carbon emissions (释放) by cycling, using public transport or an electric car, rather than driving gas-consuming vehicles. Some people choose not to fly for holiday trips because planes are the biggest producers of carbon emissions.
     You can make 'green' choices when buying food too. It's best to buy food which was locally grown or produced so that it hasn't been imported by air, or shipped by road from far away.
     Houses can be environmentally friendly too. It takes less energy to heat a house if it has good insulation(绝缘,隔热) and double glazing(双层玻璃). You can also create your own energy if you have solar panels or a wind turbine fitted though these can be expensive. You can also save water by using a rain water container for washing the car or watering the garden. It's even possible to use a system where 'grey water'—water which has been through a tap(水龙头)once already, is used flush (冲洗) toilets. Some new housing projects are being built specifically to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Reading Comprehension 
从下列每篇短文的问题后所给的四个选择项中选出一个最佳答案。
     How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
     Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities. If a child has good parents, he is well fed, looked after and loved. It is unlikely that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well known. A child finds pleasure in playing in the rain, or in the snow. His first visit to the seaside is a marvelous adventure. But a child has his pains: he is not so free to do as he wishes as he thinks older people are; he is continually being told what to do and what not to do. Therefore, a child is not happy as he wishes to be.
     When the young man starts to earn his own living, he becomes free from the discipline of school and parents; but at the same time he is forced to accept responsibilities. With no one to pay for his food, his clothes, or his room, he has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the law of his parents, he may get himself into trouble. If, however, he works hard, goes by the law and has good health, he may feel satisfied in seeing himself make steady progress in his job and in building up for himself his own position in society.
     Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be; but it is not necessary for the old to be unhappy. With old age comes wisdom and the ability to help others with advice wisely given. The old can have the joy of seeing their children making progress in life; they can watch their grandchildren growing up around them; and, perhaps best of all, they can, if their life has been a useful one, feel the happiness of having come through the battle of life safely and of having reached a time when they can lie back and rest, leaving everything to others.

阅读下面短文，请从短文后所给各题的4个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出一个最佳选项。

     It is a cold March evening on a farm in South England. Outside, 2000 sheep are standing in the fields. Most of them will give birth to lambs in the following weeks. Inside, their shepherds（牧羊人） are sitting in the warm watching TV.
     You might think that the shepherds are neglecting their duty by resting in comfort. However, if you look at the television more closely, you would see that the shepherds are protecting the sheep.
     It is part of an experiment to try to increase the survival rate of new lambs. In the past, the shepherds stayed out with their sheep, walking round and helping the mother sheep to give birth. In this experiment, television cameras are used to scan the sheep, and the shepherds are looking at a television monitor which is automatically controlled.
     The system has several advantages. Shepherds do not have to walk among the sheep, which tends to disturb the mother sheep that are about to give birth. Instead, they can stay inside, watching by remote control. If there is no problem, they stay away from the sheep. But when they are needed they can quickly go out to help, or to scare away foxes. The experiment is popular with shepherds because it means that they do not have to spend all their time outdoors waiting for the lambs to arrive in freezing weather.
     The monitoring system is rented for the few months when the lambs are born. The cost is high, but the farm manager estimates that, since lambs are so valuable, and if about ten more lambs are saved than in a usual year, the experiment will be financially worthwhile. At the same time, the experiment may show that it is possible to make a saving in manpower, especially when a large number of sheep are involved.

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     Although no one is certain why migration occurs, there are several theories. One theory is based upon the premise that prehistoric birds of the Northern Hemisphere were forced south during the Ice Age, when glaciers covered large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. As the glaciers melted, the birds came back to their homelands, spent the summer, and then went south again as the ice advanced in winter. In time, the migration became a habit, and now, although the glaciers have disappeared, the habit continues.
     Another theory proposes that the ancestral home of all modern birds was the tropics. When the region became overpopulated, many species were crowded north. During the summer, there was plenty of food, but during the winter, scarcity forced them to return to the tropics.
     A more recent theory, known as photoperiodism, suggests a relationship between increasing daylight and the stimulation, of certain glands in the birds’ bodies that may prepare them for migration. One scientist has been able to cause midwinter migrations by exposing birds to artificial periods of daylight. He has concluded that changes occur in the bodies of birds due to seasonal changes in the length of daylight.

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     There were many different cultures in the ancient world, but the two that had the most influence on European and American civilizations were the Greek and the Roman. Often these two cultures are lumped together in our minds, as if they were really exactly alike. But that is not the case. In many ways the Greeks and the Romans could not have been more different.
     The Greeks were truly democratic, often without a single leader but instead governed by a group of men chosen by the people. The Romans were semi-democratic. They had a governing Senate, but the political power was mostly or completely in the hands of a single emperor.
     Both cultures were great builders. But the construction interests of the two cultures were also different. The Greeks tended to be more artistic. Their buildings were well constructed and they were especially interested in temples, columns, and decorative forms. The Romans, on the other hand, were more engineers than artists. They concentrated their efforts on urban planning, well-functioning water pipes, and the best roads.
     Only in cooking and eating habits are the two cultures really similar. Both peoples ate very well indeed: lots of fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy meals, holding at the same time long discussions and tasting excellent wines.
     In fact, it would probably be fair to say that they both loved life in their warm, sea-oriented climates, and they both lived a full life.