Text 2
“The ancient Hawaiians were astronomers,”wrote Queen Liliuokalani,Hawaii's last reigning monarch,in 1897.Star watchers were among the most esteemed members of Hawaiian society.Sadly,all is not well with astronomy in Hawaii today.Protests have erupted over construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope(TMT),a giant observatory that promises to revolutionize humanity's view of the cosmos.
At issue is the TMT's planned location on Mauna Kea,a dormant volcano worshiped by some Hawaiians as the piko,that connects the Hawaiian Islands to the heavens.But Mauna Kea is also home to some of the world's most powerful telescopes.Rested in the Pacific Ocean,Mauna Kea's peak rises above the bulk of our planet's dense atmosphere,where conditions allow telescopes to obtain images of unsurpassed clarity.
Opposition to telescopes on Mauna Kea is nothing new.A small but vocal group of Hawaiians and environmentalists have long viewed their presence as disrespect far sacred land and a painful reminder of the occupation of what was once a sovereign nation.
Some blame for the current controversy belongs to astronomers.In their eagerness to build bigger telescopes,they forgot that science is not the only way of understanding the world.They did not always prioritize the protection of Mauna Kea's fragile ecosystems or its holiness to the islands'inhabitants.Hawaiian culture is not a relic of the past；it is a living culture undergoing a renaissance today.
Yet science has a cultural history,too,with roots going back to the dawn of civilization.The same curiosity to find what lies beyond the horizon that first brought early Polynesians to Hawaii's shores inspires astronomers today to explore the heavens.Calls to disassemble all telescopes on Mauna Kea or to ban future development there ignore the reality that astronomy and Hawaiian culture both seek to answer big questions about who we are,where we come from and where we are going.Perhaps that is why we explore the starry skies,as if answering a primal calling to know ourselves and our true ancestral homes.
The astronomy community is making compromises to change its use of Mauna Kea.The TMT site was chosen to minimize the telescope’s visibility around the island and to avoid archaeological and environmental impact.To limit the number of telescopes on Mauna Kea,old ones will be removed at the end of their lifetimes and their sites returned to a natural state.There is no reason why everyone cannot be welcomed on Mauna Kea to embrace their cultural heritage and to study the stars.
26. Queen Liliuokalani’s remark in Paragraph 1 indicates
[A]her conservative view on the historical role of astronomy.
[B]the importance of astronomy in ancient Hawaiian society.
[C]the regrettable decline of astronomy in ancient times.
[D]her appreciation of star watchers’ feats in her time.
27. Mauna Kea is deemed as an ideal astronomical site due to
[A]its geographical features.
[B]its protective surroundings.
[C]its religious implications.
[D]its existing infrastructure.
28. The construction of the TMT is opposed by some locals partly because
[A]it may risk ruining their intellectual life.
[B]it reminds them of a humiliating history.
[C]their culture will lose a chance of revival.
[D]they fear losing control of Mauna Kea.
29. It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that progress in today’s astronomy
[A]is fulfilling the dreams of ancient Hawaiians.
[B]helps spread Hawaiian culture across the world.
[C]may uncover the origin of Hawaiian culture.
[D]will eventually soften Hawaiians’hostility.
30. The author’s attitude toward choosing Mauna Kea as the TMT site is one of
[A]severe criticism.
[B]passive acceptance.
[C]slight hesitancy.
[D]full approval.
【参考答案】BABCD
Text 3
Robert F.Kennedy once said that a country's GDP measures“everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”With Britain voting to leave the European Union,and GDP already predicted to slow as a result,it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to.
The question of GDP and its usefulness has annoyed policymakers for over half a century.Many argue that it is a flawed concept.It measures things that do not matter and misses things that do.By most recent measures,the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western world,with record low unemployment and high growth figures.If everything was going so well,then why did over 17 million people vote for Brexit,despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?
A recent annual study of countries and their ability to convert growth into well-being sheds some light on that question.Across the 163 countries measured,the UK is one of the poorest performers in ensuring that economic growth is translated into meaningful improvements for its citizens.Rather than just focusing on GDP,over 40 different sets of criteria from health,education and civil society engagement have been measured to get a more rounded assessment of how countries are performing.
While all of these countries face their own challenges,there are a number of consistent themes.Yes,there has been a budding economic recovery since the 2008 global crash,but in key indicators in areas such as health and education,major economies have continued to decline.Yet this isn’t the case with all countries.Some relatively poor European countries have seen huge improvements across measures including civil society,income equality and environment.
This is a lesson that rich countries can learn:When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success,the world looks very different.
So what Kennedy was referring to was that while GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations,as a measure,it is no longer enough.It does not include important factors such as environmental quality or education outcomes–all things that contribute to a person's sense of well-being.
The sharp hit to growth predicted around the world and in the UK could lead to a decline in the everyday services we depend on for our well-being and for growth.But policymakers who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress.
31. Robert F.Kennedy is cited because he
[A]praised the UK for its GDP.
[B]identified GDP with happiness.
[C]misinterpreted the role of GDP.
[D]had a low opinion of GDP.
32. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that
[A]the UK is reluctant to remold its economic pattern.
[B]the UK will contribute less to the world economy.
[C]GDP as the measure of success is widely defied in the UK.
[D]policymakers in the UK are paying less attention to GDP.
33. Which of the following is true about the recent annual study?
[A]It excludes GDP as an indicator.
[B]It is sponsored by 163 countries.
[C]Its criteria are questionable.
[D]Its results are enlightening.
34. In the last two paragraphs,the author suggests that
[A]the UK is preparing for an economic boom.
[B]high GDP foreshadows an economic decline.
[C]it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP.
[D]it requires caution to handle economic issues.
35. Which of the following is the best for the text?
[A]High GDP But Inadequate Well-being,a UK lesson.
[B]GDP figures,a Window on Global Economic Health.
[C]Robert F.Kennedy,a Terminator of GDP.
[D]Brexit,the UK’s Gateway to Well-being .
【参考答案】DCDCA
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