Text 4 　　Many people talked of the 288,000 new jobs the Labor Department reporled for Jure, along with the drop in the unemployment take to 6 J percent. at good news. And they were right. For now it appears the economy is creating jobs at a decent pace. We still have a long way to go to get back to full employment, but at least we are now finally moving forward at a faster pace. 　　However there is another important part of the jobs picture that was targely ovedookcd. There was a big jump in the number of people who report voluntarily working part-time. This figure is now 830,000（4,4 percent）above its year ago level. 　　Before explaining the connection to the Obamacare, it is worth making an important distinction. Many people who work part-time jobs actually want full-time jobs. They take part-time work because this is all they can get. An increase in involuntary part-time work is evidence of weakness in the labor market and it means that many people will be having a very hard time making ends meet. 　　There was an increase in involuntary part-time in June, but the general direction has been down. Involuntary part-time employment is still far higher than before the recession, but it is down by 640,000(7.9 percent)from its year ago level. 　　We know the difference between voluntary and involuntary part-time employment because people tell us. The survey used by the Labor Department asks people if they worked less than 35 hours in the reference week. If the answer is "yes."they are classified as working part-time. The survey then asks whether they worked less than 35 hours in that week because they wanted to work less than full time or because they had no choice. They are only elassified as voluntary part-time workers if they tell the survey taker they chose to work less than 35 hours a week. 　　The issue of voluntary part-time relates to Obamacare becanse one of the main purposes was to allow people to get insurance outside of employment. For many people, especially those with serious health conditions or family members with serious health conditions, before Obamacare the only way to get insurance was through a job that provided health insurance. 　　However, Obamacare has allowed more than 12 million people to either get insurance through Medicaid or the exchanges. These are people who may previously have felt the need to get a full-time job that provided insurance in order to cover themselves and their families. With Obamacare there is no longer a link between employment and insurance.

Involuntary part-time employment in the US（）

A:is harder to acquire than one year ago B:shows a general tendency of decline C:satisfies the real need of the jobless D:is lower than before the recession

Passage Three
Humanity is a new experiment on planet Earth. For most of its history, life on Earth was restricted to the sea. Living things began to populate the land slightly over 400 million years ago, and humans have existed for no more than 3 million years.
One way to represent the evolution of tire is to compress the 4.6-billion-year history of Earth into a 1-year-long film. In such a film, Earth forms as the film begins on January 1, and through all of January and February it cools and is cratered (变成坑状) and the first oceans form. But those oceans remain lifeless until sometime in March or early April, when the first living things develop. The 4-billion-year history of Precambrian (前赛武纪) evolution lasts until the film reaches mid-November, when primitive ocean life begins to evolve into complex organisms such as trilobites (三叶虫).
If we examine the land instead of the oceans, we find a lifeless waste. But once our film shows plant and animal life on the land, about November 28, evolution proceeds rapidly. Dinosaurs, for example, appear about December 12 and vanish by Christmas Eve, as mammals (哺乳动物) and birds flourish.
Throughout the 1-year-run of our film there are no humans, and even during the last days of the year as the mammals rise and dominate the landscape, there are no people. In the early evening of December 31, vaguely human forms move through the grasslands, and by late evening they begin making stone tools. The Stone Age lasts until about 11:45 pm, and the first signs of civilization, towns and cities, do not appear until 11: 54 pm. The Christian era begins only 14 seconds before the New Year, and the Declaration of Independence is signed with I second to spare.

In the compressed history of Earth the Declaration of Independence is signed（）

A:a long time before the New Year B:immediately after the New Year's Day C:just one second before the New Year D:right on the New Year's Day

You have heard of Webster Toys. Webster’s have made good, safe, interesting toys for more than a hundred years. Now, we sell them, and children play with them, in countries from New Zealand to Norway, and from Japan to Brazil(巴西). We are looking for someone to sell our toys in the Far East. He (or she) will be between the ages of thirty and forty. He will already have some years of selling in world markets behind him. He will speak good English, and at least one other language of the Far east.
The person we are looking for will live in Singapore, and work in our office there, but he will travel for up to six months in any one year. He will know the Far East quite well already. He will know how to sell in old markets, and where to find new ones. He will understand money, and make more than ever before, for himself, and for Webster Toys.
Webster’s want someone who can stand on his own feet. If you think you are the person we are looking for, write to Mr. J. Sloman at our Head Office.
Webster Toys Ltd.
Church Mill, Watford
Herts. WD3 6HE
He will live in Singapore______.

A:for at least 6 months in any one year B:all through the year C:for less than six months a year D:for up to six months

Passage Three Humanity is a new experiment on planet Earth. For most of its history, life on Earth was restricted to the sea. Living things began to populate the land slightly over 400 million years ago, and humans have existed for no more than 3 million years. One way to represent the evolution of tire is to compress the 4.6-billion-year history of Earth into a 1-year-long film. In such a film, Earth forms as the film begins on January 1, and through all of January and February it cools and is cratered (变成坑状) and the first oceans form. But those oceans remain lifeless until sometime in March or early April, when the first living things develop. The 4-billion-year history of Precambrian (前赛武纪) evolution lasts until the film reaches mid-November, when primitive ocean life begins to evolve into complex organisms such as trilobites (三叶虫). If we examine the land instead of the oceans, we find a lifeless waste. But once our film shows plant and animal life on the land, about November 28, evolution proceeds rapidly. Dinosaurs, for example, appear about December 12 and vanish by Christmas Eve, as mammals (哺乳动物) and birds flourish. Throughout the 1-year-run of our film there are no humans, and even during the last days of the year as the mammals rise and dominate the landscape, there are no people. In the early evening of December 31, vaguely human forms move through the grasslands, and by late evening they begin making stone tools. The Stone Age lasts until about 11:45 pm, and the first signs of civilization, towns and cities, do not appear until 11: 54 pm. The Christian era begins only 14 seconds before the New Year, and the Declaration of Independence is signed with I second to spare.

In the compressed history of Earth the Declaration of Independence is signed（）

A:a long time before the New Year B:immediately after the New Year's Day C:just one second before the New Year D:right on the New Year's Day

While scientists are searching the cause of the Columbia disaster, NASA is moving ahead with plans to develop a new craft that would replace shuttles(航开飞机)on space station missions by 2012 and respond quickly to space station emergencies.
The space agency released the first set of mission needs and requirements several days ago for me orbital space plane(轨道航天飞机), which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station.
Although it includes few specifics, the plan states the orbiter(轨道航天飞机)will be safer cheaper and require less preparation time than the shuttle. It would be able to transport four crew members by 2012--though it would be available for rescue missions by 2010 NASA says the craft should be able to transport injured or ill space station crew- members to "definitive(决定性的) medical care" within 24 hours.
The release of the requirements showed NASA remains focused on the long-term priorities of space exploration, even as questions exist concerning the loss of Columbia and its seven, member crew- on February 1, 2003.
Expels at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have been working for years on a successor to the shuttle. The project, known as the Space Launch Initiative(倡议), was divided last year into two parts----one focusing on a future launch vehicle, the other on a space station orbiter. The orbiter is expected to be ready sooner.
The program’s managers say NASA officials have told them not to alter Space Launch Initiative in light of the Columbia disaster.
U. S. President George W: Bush asked Congress for about US$1 billion for Space Launch Initiative in 2004, funds that would be almost equally split between the Orbital Space Plane and Next Generation Launch Technology.
When did NASA start working on a successor to the shuttle

A:One year before the Columbia disaster B:One year after the Columbia disaster. C:Immediately after the Columbia disaster D:Years before the Columbia disaster.

Doctors around the world now perform more than two hundred thirty million major operations every year. The World Health Organization says preventable injuries and deaths from medical operations are a growing concern.
Experts estimate that at least one million people die every year because of complications from surgical treatments. The W. H. O. says studies suggest that about half of these problems may be preventable. The United Nations agency hopes to reduce mistakes with a program built around a new Surgical Safety Checklist.
Atul Gawande works at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. He helped develop the Safe Surgery Saves Lives program. Doctor Gawande and other researchers studied records from fifty-six countries.
In two thousand four, surgical complications in developed countries led to death in less than one percent of cases. In developing countries, the rate was five to ten percent. Complications can happen during an operation or after. For example, an infection might develop after an operation.
More than two hundred medical societies and health ministries have joined in the effort to make surgery safer. The new list is similar to what airplane pilots use before flying.
One member of the surgical team is responsible for the checklist. The first questions are asked before the patient receives anesthesia. The very first step is to confirm the patient’s identity and the operation to be performed.
More questions are asked before the first cut. All members of the team are supposed to identify themselves by name and job. Another step is to confirm whether the patient was given antibiotic drugs within the last hour to prevent infection.
The third and final part of the checklist is completed before the patient leaves the operating room. For example, surgical equipment is counted to make sure nothing unnecessary stays in the patient.
At eight locations worldwide, these actions were being done only thirty-six percent of the time. But the W. H. O. says use of the list increased that to sixty-eight percent. Some hospitals reached almost one hundred percent.
Early results from one thousand patients showed a drop in complications and deaths. Doctor Gawande says the checklist has helped him in his own surgery. A final version of the list is expected by the end of the year.
Which of the following is NOT true according to this article

A:The rate of surgical complications in developed countries is higher than one in developing countries. B:Half of the complications from surgical treatments may be preventable. C:The first step of checklist is performed before the patient receives anesthesia. D:A final version of the checklist is expected by the end of the year.

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

When did NASA start working on a successor to the shuttle?

A:One year before the Columbia disaster. B:One year after the Columbia disaster. C:Immediately after the Columbia disaster. D:Years before the Columbia disaster.

第三篇 Human Space Exploration While scientists are searching the cause of the Columbia disaster, NASA is moving ahead with plans to develop a new craft that would replace shuttles(航天飞机)on space stationmissions by 2012 and respond quickly to space station emergencies． The space agency released the first set of mission needs and requirements several days ago for me orbital space plane(轨道航天飞机)，which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station． Although it includes few specifics，the plan states the orbiter(轨道航天飞机)will be safer cheaper and require less preparation time than the shuttle．It would be able to transport four crew members by 2012--though it would be available for rescue missions by 2010.NASA says the craft should be able to transport injured or ill space station crew members to“definitive(决定性的)medical care” within 24 hours． The release of the requirements showed NASA remains focused on the long-term priorities of space exploration，even as questions exist concerning the loss of Columbia and its seven．member crew on February l，2003．． Expels at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville，Alabama，have been working for years on a successor to the shuttle．The project，known as the Space Launch Initiative(倡议)，was divided last year into two parts----one focusing on a future launch vehicle，the other on a space station orbiter．The orbiter is expected to be ready sooner． The program’s managers say NASA officials have told them not to alter Space Launch Initiative in light of the Columbia disaster． U．S．President George W：Bush asked Congress for about US$1 billion for Space Launch Initiative in 2004，funds that would be almost equally split between the Orbital Space Plane and Next Generation Launch Technology． When did NASA start working on a successor to the shuttle?

A:One year before the Columbia disaster. B:One year after the Columbia disaster． C:Immediately after the Columbia disaster. ‘ D:Years before the Columbia disaster．

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

When did the scientists start working on a successor to the shuttle?

A:Immediately after the Columbia disaster. B:One year after the Columbia disaster. C:Years before the explosion of Columbia. D:Not mentioned in the passage.