＇C＇ There is； however； a contrary view — one that is gaining strength and directly challenges orthodox biology。 It is that complexity can emerge spontaneously through a process of selforganization。 If matter and energy have an inbuilt tendency to amplify and channel organized complexity； the odds against the formation of life and the subsequent evolution of intelligence could be drastically shortened。 The relevance of self…organization to biology remains hotly debated。 It suggests； however； that although the universe as a whole may be dying； an opposite； progressive trend may also exist as a fundamental property of nature。 The emergence of extraterrestrial life； particularly intelligent life； is a key test for these rival paradigms。
＇D＇ Similar reasoning applies to evolution。 According to the orthodox view； Darwinian selection is utterly blind。 Any impression that the transition from microbes to man represents progress is pure chauvinism of our part。 The path of evolution is merely a random walk through the realm of possibilities。 If this is right； there can be no directionality； no innate drive forward； in particular； no push toward consciousness and intelligence。 Should Earth be struck by an asteroid； destroying all higher life…forms； intelligent beings； still less humanoids； would almost certainly not arise next time around。
＇E＇ Traditionally； biologists believed that life is a freak — the result of a zillion…to…one accidental concatenation of molecules。 It follows that the likelihood of its happening again elsewhere in the cosmos is infinitesimal。 This viewpoint derives from the second law of thermodynamics； which predicts that the universe is dying…slowly and inexorably degenerating toward a state of total chaos。 Life stumbles across this trend only because it is a pure statistical luck。
＇F＇ Historically； the Roman Catholic church regarded any discussion of alien life as heresy。 Speculating about other inhabited worlds was one reason philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in 1600。 Belief that mankind has a special relationship with God is central to the monotheistic religions。 The existence of alien beings； especially if they were further advanced than humans intellectually and spiritually； would disrupt this cozy view。
＇G＇ The discovery of life beyond earth would transform not only our science but also our religions； our belief systems and our entire world view。 For in a sense； the search for extraterrestrial life is really a search for ourselves — who we are and what our place is in the grand sweep of the cosmos。
Order：
G 41 42 43 44 45 F
Sample Three
Direction：You are going to read a text about the season for relief； followed by a list of examples。 Choose the best example from the list A…F for each numbered subheading （41…45）。 There is one extra example which you do not need to use。 Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1。 （10 points）
Winter’s harsh weather； shorter hours of daylight and family demands can all aggravate feelings of stress。 According to Dr。 Paul Rosch； president of the American Institute of Stress； one Midwestern headache clinic reported that complaints of tension and migraine headaches increased 40 percent from Thanksgiving to Christmas； compared with other sixweek periods during the year。
Many physicians are now trained in techniques to relieve tension and stress。 But which strategies do they themselves use？ Here top health professionals reveal their favorite stressbusters。 Six in all； they are：
（41） Soothe with food。 When nutritional biochemist Judith Wurtman is stressed out； she does what a lot of people do this time of year： she reaches for food。 But in her case； it’s a healthy rice cake or two。
（42） Run from your problem。 Dr。 Kenneth H。 Cooper handles his own stress with a daily afterwork run。
（43） Check your perspective。 Driving in for a busy day as a MayoClinic stress…management expert； psychologist John Taylor saw the oil…maintenance light pop on in his minivan。 He faced a nonstop schedule of patients and had to pick up his three…year…old after work。 “I felt myself tense up；” recalls Taylor； who then tried his quick stress…busting strategy。 He asked himself； Is this a matter of life or death？ No。 The oil could safely be changed the next week。
（44） Look to the light side。 On his way to the hospital where his father was to undergo surgery； author and educator Joel Goodman shared a hotel courtesy van with the anxious relatives of several patients。 The driver began telling his stressed…out passengers a few jokes。 “Then he did some magic tricks that had my mother and me laughing；” Goodman says。 “In that five…minute ride he taught us that humor can relieve our stress。” The surgery was successful。
（45） Take a timeout。 A major cause of anxiety is an overloaded schedule。 It’s one source of stress you can ward off by preparing ahead。
Say a little prayer。 Psychologist and medical scientist Joan Bprysenko of Boulder； Colo。； maintains that since most people spend too much time agonizing over the past or worrying about the future； the key to lessening stress is learning how to live emotionally in the present。
“It helps to have some ritual to do this；” says Borysenko。 For her the most relaxing ritual is “each morning when I pray。” Prayer has been shown to reduce the impact of stress hormones such as noradrenaline and adrenaline。
But remember； says Borysenko； doctors can’t turn on their patient’ “internal healing system”。 That inner clam is up to you。 So you’re sick of stress； heal thyself。
＇A＇ Williams counts himself among the 20 percent of adults whose susceptibility to anger is high enough to threaten their health。 But everyone can try his approach to handling the stressors that set anger off — and it needn’t be in a work environment。
＇B＇ “Aerobic exercise is the best way to dissipate stress and make the transition into family time；” says the expert。 But； he cautions； don’t let exercise itself become a stress。 Even moderate activity — such as a daily 30 minute walk can improve health and mood。 “That’s why I tell my patients to be sure to walk their dog every day；” he says with a chuckle； “even if they don’t have one。”
＇C＇ “My research suggests that carbohydrates raise levels of the mood…regulating brain chemical serotonin； which exerts a calming effect on the entire body；” says the M。I。T research scientist。 “So symptoms of stress — such as anger； tension； irritability and inability to concentrate — are eased。”
＇D＇ He tells patients to do only those tasks that would have serious consequences if left undone。 “Will you die if you don’t do the laundry？” he asks。 Taking at least half an hour a day to do something you enjoy； he notes； lets you recharge you batteries。 Especially around the holidays； skip some routine chores to make time for family and friends。
＇E＇ When cardiologist Ray Rosenman was associate chief of medicine at San Francisco’s Mount Zion Hospital； he would block off half an hour a day on his schedule。 “If an emergency came up； I moved patients into that slot；” says Rosenman； co…author of Type A Behavior and Your Heart。 “Or used that half…hour to return calls or go through my mail。 You can’t control everything； but you can control your schedule to create some breathing space for yourself。”
＇F＇ He was so moved by his experience that he researched laughter’s power。 “A good laugh relaxes muscles； lowers blood pressure； suppresses stress…related hormones and enhances the immune system；” he says。 In his workshops he tells clients to ask themselves how their favorite comedian would see this stressful situation。
Sample Four
Directions：You are going to read a list of headings and a text about explorations into maple lores。 Choose the most suitable heading from the list A－F for each numbered paragraph （41－45）。 The first and last paragraphs of the text are not numbered。 There is one extra heading which you do not need to use。 Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1。 （10 points）
＇A＇ The influence of maples on the Canadian culture。
＇B＇ The token of maples in Canada。
＇C＇ Contemplation of global distribution of maples。
＇D＇ The triumph of Nokomis over the devils with the help of maples。
＇E＇ The popularity of the maple in a favorite myth。
＇F＇ The maple signals the approach of fall。
The maple smoke of autumn bonfires is incense to Canadians。 Bestowing perfume for the nose； color for the eye； sweetness for the spring tongue； the sugar maple prompts this sharing of a favorite myth and original etymology of the word maple。
41
The maple looms large in Ojibwa folk tales。 The time of year for sugaringoff is “in the Maple Moon。” Among Ojibwa； the primordial female figure is Nokomis； a wise grandmother。 In one tale about seasonal change； cannibal wendigos…creatures of evil — chased old Nokomis through the autumn countryside。 Wendigos throve in icy cold。 When they entered the bodies of humans； the human heart froze solid。 Here wendigos re