[单项选择]After a(n) ______ rise in prices of daily purchases, people feel that money is tight.
A. acceptable
B. expensive
C. massive
D. explosion

[填空题]After a sharp rise, there was no change in bicycle sales for the rest of the period.

[单项选择]

K: Dr. Smith This is Keet Bradley from the Daily News. I’d like to ask you some questions about the new official standard weight that you purchased.
S: I’d be happy to help you. What would you like to know
K: First of all, how is the standard weight used
S: Well, the people in our department use it to check the scales all over the country. As the department of weights and measures, we are a government agency. It’s our responsibility to see that all the scales measure a kilogram accurately so this is the way we use to adjust the scales.
K: How did you check the scales before
S: We have an old standard weight that we used to use. It had to be replaced because it was imprecise. You see it was made of poor quality metal that was too porous. It absorbed too much moisture.
K: Oh. So when the weather was humid it weighed more and when it was dry it weighed less.
S: Exactly. And that variation can affect the standa
A. How to care for precious metals.
B. A standard unit for measuring weight.
C. The value of precious metals.
D. Using the metric system.

[单项选择]

Global Cancer Rates to Rise by 50% by 2020
The number of new cancer cases worldwide is expected to increase by 50% by the year 2020. But a new report suggests that as many as a third of new cancers could be avoided by adopting healthier lifestyles and through public health action.
The World Cancer Report, released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, shows that cancer has now emerged as a major public health threat in developing countries as well as rich ones.
Overall, cancer was responsible for 12% of all deaths in 2000. But in many countries more than a quarter of all deaths are caused by cancer.
The report shows that 10 million new cancers were diagnosed globally in 2000, and that number is expected to rise to 15 million by 2020. Researchers say most of that increase will mainly be due to steadily aging populations in both developed and developing countries and current trends in smoking and other unhealthy habits.
&
A. 50% of new cancers. 
B. 33% of new cancers.  
C. 12% of new cancers.  
D. 80% of new cancers.

[填空题]　 The Rise of RP Historical reasons 　　Received pronunciation was originally associated with a【1】spoken in the region between central England and London, including Oxford and Cambridge. 　　Its survival was due to its use by the【2】in the 14th century and by university students in the【3】Ages. 　　Its rise in importance resulted from its application in government and official documents. 　　The prestige of its【4】pattern of pronunciation came about with its use in【5】schools in the 19th century. 　　As a result, its【6】is accepted by television and the radio, the professions and teaching English as a foreign language. Three characteristics of RP 　　1) its speakers don’’t regard themselves as connected with any geographical region; 　　2) RP is largely used in England; 　　3) RP is a "class" accent, associated with【7】social classes. Its present status 　　Decline in the prestige of RP is the result of a) loss of monopoly of education by the privileged; b) 【8】