B)阅读下列短文,然后回答问题或完成句子。

　　(C)

　　The planet Earth was probably born about 4,500 million years ago, but for hundreds of millions of years after that there was no life here. There were strong winds and rain fell very heavily. There were no plants to stop the sun's rays hitting the planet with their full force.

　　Rocks from about 2,700 million years ago show some signs of the existence of life but at that time no organisms(生物) existed. When a chemical compound(化合物) of a certain size and complexity was formed, "life" was part of it. The first of these living chemicals were probably like the viruses(病毒) we know today. From this "virus" stage the next development was to an organism:a number of viruses together. Today we call this type of organism "bacteria(细菌)". There are clear indications that bacteria lived on Earth long before there were other higher types of life.

　　"Flagellates(鞭毛虫)" were the next stage in the evolution(进化) of life. Some could make their own food, like plants. Others could break down organic matter and others could swallow their food whole, like animals. They formed a stage of life before plants and animals were clearly separated from each other.

　　About 1,500 million years ago various seaweeds, creatures like jellyfish and worms appeared. Soon most of the main groups of animals without backbones were in existence.

　　It was as recently as 350 million years ago that the first life appeared on land. However, it was only in the last

　　million years that primitive(原始的) man appeared. From the Stone Age to the age of the Atom, human evolution has been rapid.

　　31. Life on Earth began _______ .

　　32. The first "life" was a living chemical, something like a _______ .

　　33. Bacteria are a type of organism that _______ .

　　34."Flagellates" resembled(类似) both _______ and _______ .

　　35. The first animals were _______ .

　　36. Until 350 million years ago _______ .

　　解题关键:认真阅读原文,掌握原文主旨大意:本文介绍地球上生命发展演变过程。

　　[参考答案及提示]

　　31. 2,700 million years ago (long after the birth of the planet) 依据:原文原句Rocks from about 2,700 million years ago show some signs of the existence of life...

　　32. virus 依据:原文原句The first of these living chemicals were probably like the viruses we know today.

　　33. is made from a number of viruses together/lived on Earth before there were other higher forms of life 依据:原文原句From this "virus" stage the next development was to an organism: a number of viruses together.和There are clear indications that bacteria lived on Earth long before there were other higher types of life.

　　34. animals; plants 依据:原文原句"Flagellates" were the next stage in the evolution of life. Some could make their own food, like plants. Others could break down organic matter and others could swallow their food whole, like animals.

　　35. seaweeds, jellyfish and worms 依据:原文原句About 1,500 million years ago various seaweeds, creatures like jellyfish and worms appeared. Soon most of the main groups of animals without backbones were in existence.

　　36. life only existed in the sea/there was no life on land 依据:原文原句It was as recently as 350 million years ago that the first life appeared on land.

　　(D)

　　One doctor who has studied the problem of absenteeism from school and work says that the people who stay at home are not necessarily sicker than those who go to school or work. He says that people's perceptions of illness differ greatly. Two people may suffer from the same degree of sickness but one may decide to go to work and the other to stay at home.

　　Of course, certain people will stay at home at the slightest excuse. Once an employee apologized for not coming to work because he had sprained(扭伤) his finger when he put a disk into his computer! Another had been attacked by a shark in a lake! Some people even stay away because they are feeling "mentally unwell". Many reasons for absences are so vague(模糊的) as to be meaningless. When a woman employee stays off work because of "female problems", for example,no male boss dares ask what those problems are.

　　The flu, influenza, is probably the most common cause of absenteeism, according to surveys conducted in the past few years. The common cold, however, does not account for as many absences as its name would suggest. Broken arms and legs, sprains and strains(劳损) caused by sports and physical exercise are also the cause of many absences. And poor people tend to be absent more often than rich people. This is probably explained by the fact that poor people have low-paying jobs and feel less responsible to their employer. Men who are approaching(接近) retirement age or who are about to change jobs stay at home more days than most other people.

　　Absences because of sickness are usually more enjoyable than a vacation which has been planned. There is no list of things for you to do. Because you feel too ill to eat a normal meal, who can blame you for relaxing and watching television all day! You can stay at home and be free from life's cares and worries for at least a day! Moreover, at the same time, there is often someone who will attend to everything you may need and express constant concern about your health. What could be better?

　　37. In what way can two people's reaction to the same illness differ?

　　38. Can you give two examples of ridiculous(可笑的) reasons for being absent from work?

　　39. What would no man dare ask a woman who is absent because of "female problems"?

　　40. What illness results in the most absences?

　　41. Does the common cold result in a large number of absences?

　　42. Should an employer be careful about encouraging their workers to take part in lots of sports and exercise? Why(not)?

　　43. Which three groups of people tend to be absent more than others?

　　44. Why can it be more enjoyable to be absent because you are sick than to be on vacation?

　　解题关键:认真阅读原文,掌握原文主旨大意:本文介绍旷工的人总爱找各种理由,有身体上的原因,有精神上的原因,甚至还有以"妇女问题"为原因的.人们最喜欢找的原因是生病,因为这种原因既可使你不上班,又可使自己得到别人的关心,何乐而不为?

　　[参考答案及提示]

　　37. One person may decide to go to work and the other to stay at home. 依据:原文原句Two people may suffer from the same degree of sickness but one may decide to go to work and the other to stay at home.

　　38.One employee said he had sprained his finger putting a disk into his computer and another employee said he had been attacked by a shark when in a lake. 依据:原文原句Once an employee apologized for not coming to work because he had sprained his finger when he put a disk into his computer! Another had been attacked by a shark in a lake!

　　39. Ask what the female problems are.依据:原文原句When a woman employee stays off work because of "female problems", for example, no male boss dares ask what those problems are.

　　40. The flu (influenza). 依据:原文原句The flu, influenza, is probably the most common cause of absenteeism...

　　41. Not as many as could be expected. 依据:原文原句The common cold, however, does not account for as many absences as its name would suggest.

　　42. Yes, they should. Because accidents resulting from sports and exercise cause many absences. 依据:原文原句Broken arms and legs, sprains and strains caused by sports and physical exercise are also the cause of many absences.

　　43. Poor people, men near the age of retirement and men about to change jobs. 依据:原文原句This is probably explained by the fact that poor people have low-paying jobs and feel less responsible to their employer. Men who are approaching retirement age or who are about to change jobs stay at home more days than most other people.

　　44. Because you do not have to do anything apart from relax. Moreover, there is often someone who will look after you. 依据:根据文章大意及原文原句Moreover, at the same time, there is often someone who will attend to everything you may need and express constant concern about your health.

　　(文/郝昌明 ； 英语辅导报高二版 03~04学年度第42期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)