106指考英文

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One of the most difficult things for a human to face is the loss of a limb. If a person loses an arm or a leg, he/she must be fitted with an artificial limb. The situation is very different for a starfish. If a starfish loses an arm, it can grow a new one. ______ Snails can even regrow their heads-imagine what the world would be like if humans could do that.
(A) Scientists call this unidirectional regeneration. (B) Humans aren’t completely without regenerative talents. (C) The same thing happens for lobsters, salamanders, and many other animals. (D) When it comes to regeneration, few animals can equal the magic of the planarian. (E) This type of regeneration is demonstrated in a few animals, such as hydras and sea stars. (F) They hope that this line of research will make regeneration possible in humans someday.

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Often named as the most prominent contemporary female architect, Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-born British woman, is significant for her intellectual toughness and her refusal to compromise on her artistic ideas. For many years, her designs filled the pages of architecture journals but were dismissed as impractical or too radical. Also, being female in a male-dominated field didn’t help her succeed. Despite these setbacks, her star began to rise when her design for Cincinnati’s new Center for Contemporary Art was selected and built, earning her worldwide acclaim. The New York Times described the building as “the most important new building in America since the Cold War.” Once her talent was recognized, commissions started coming in to design a variety of projects, including public transportation, libraries, and opera houses. In 2004, Hadid became the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize. She also won the Stirling Prize in 2010 and 2011. Hadid’s interest in architecture had roots in a trip her family took to the ancient Sumer region in southern Iraq, the site of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, when she was a teenager. She recalled: “The beauty of the landscape-where sand, water, reeds, birds, buildings, and people all somehow flowed together-has never left me. I’m trying to discover-invent, I suppose-an architecture, and forms of urban planning, that do something of the same thing in a contemporary way.” Nature’s forms appear as a recurrent source of inspiration for Hadid’s architecture. Her designs are daring and visionary experiments with space and with the relationships of buildings to their urban surroundings. She consistently pushes the boundaries of architecture and urban design in the pursuit of a visionary aesthetic that expresses her ideals.
36. According to the passage, what is a major factor in Hadid’s success?
(A) Her family support.
(B) Her ethnic origin.
(C) Her gender and education.
(D) Her vision and talent.

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37. What does the author mean by “…her star began to rise…” in the second paragraph?
(A) She started to make a fortune.
(B) She became more recognized.
(C) Her designs became classical.
(D) Her ideas started to take shape.

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38. What is the third paragraph mainly about?
(A) The cultural background of Hadid’s family.
(B) The beautiful landscape of Hadid’s hometown.
(C) A vivid recollection of Hadid’s life as a teenager.
(D) A fundamental source of Hadid’s architectural philosophy.

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39. According to the passage, which of the following is true about Hadid’s career in architecture?
(A) She built the first Center for Contemporary Art in New York.
(B) Her architecture projects mainly involve museums in urban areas.
(C) Her works can be characterized as boldly contemporary and innovative.
(D) Her early designs were often rejected because of her political background.

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Todd Bol, a retired businessman, could never have expected that a wooden container he built on his deck one day in 2009 would have the global impact it does today. Bol built a dollhouse-size structure that looked like a schoolhouse on a post, and he put it on his lawn as a free community library to commemorate his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol’s prototype gave birth to Little Free Library (LFL), a nonprofit organization that seeks to place small, accessible book exchange boxes in neighborhoods around the world. The concept is simple: Neighbors are invited to share a book, leave a book, or both. Today, there are over 50,000 of these libraries registered in 70 countries. Almost everyone can register with LFL and start a library as long as the person keeps it in good shape and makes sure that book materials are appropriate for his/her neighborhood. Library owners can create their own library boxes; therefore, the libraries are usually unique in appearance, and there seems to be no limit to the possibilities. One library in California was built out of a used wine crate; another in Texas had tiny stairs and bright colored walls. Once registered, libraries are assigned a number at LFL’s website. The LFL Index lists the locations of all libraries with GPS coordinates and other information. Owners receive a sign that reads “Little Free Library.” People say they have been more inclined to pick up a book when walking by a Little Free Library, out of curiosity and because it’s convenient. Some sidewalk librarians say they have met more neighbors since having a little library in their front yard. Bol is also most proud of the way Little Free Library is bringing communities together. “It’s started a neighborhood exchange. It gets people talking and more comfortable with their neighbors,” he says. “This leads to them helping each other.”
40. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned about Todd Bol?
(A) His mother used to be a school teacher.
(B) He was engaged in trade and commerce.
(C) He provided a great service to his neighborhood.
(D) He built a schoolhouse to pay tribute to his mother.