I．Translate the following two passages into Chinese.(35 points) (45 min.)
(1)
Icebergs are among nature’s most spectacular creations, and yet most people have never seen one. A vague air of mystery envelops them. They come into being --- somewhere --- in faraway, frigid waters, amid thunderous noise and splashing turbulence, which in most cases no one hears or sees. They exist only a short time and then slowly waste away just as unnoticed.
Objects of sheerest beauty, they have been called. Appearing in an endless variety of shapes, they may be dazzlingly white, or they may be glassy blue, green or purple, tinted faintly or in darker hues. They are graceful, stately, inspiring in calm, sunlit sea.
(2)
Botany, the study of plants, occupies a peculiar position in history of human knowledge. For many thousands of years it was the one field of awareness about which humans had anything more than the vaguest of insights. It is impossible to know today just what our Stone Age ancestors knew about plants, but from what we can observe of preindustrial societies that still exist, a detailed learning of plants and their properties must be extremely ancient. This is logical. Plants are the basis of the food pyramid for all living things, even for other plants. They have always been enormously important to the welfare of peoples, not only for food, but also for clothing, weapons, tools, dyes, medicines, shelter, and a great many other purposes.

II． Translate the following two passages into English.(40 points) (45 min.)
(1)
坚持党的思想路线，解放思想，实事求是，与时俱进，使我们党坚持先进性和增强创造力的决定性因素, 也是十六大报告的精髓。学习贯彻十六大精神要紧紧把握这个精髓，使全党同志懂得，世界在变化，我国改革开放和现代化建设在前进，人民群众的伟大实践在发展，迫切要求我们认真总结实践的新经验，在理论上不断扩展新视野，作出新概括；并通过理论创新推动制度创新、科技创新、文化创新以及其他各方面的创新。
(2)
先生不知何许人也，亦不详其姓字。宅边有五柳树，因以为号焉。闲静少言，不慕荣利。好读书，不求甚解；每有会意，便欣然忘食。性嗜酒，家贫而不能常得。亲旧知其如此，或置酒而招之。造饮辄尽，期在必醉。常著文章自娱。颇示己志。忘怀得失，以此自终。
译注：（供理解用，不必翻译）
[1] 号：古人除名、字之外，还有别号。[2] 造：去、到。

III．WRITING
It seems only human for people to want to improve their position in life and to want to make their lives more comfortable and interesting.
What good do you see in people’s desires to buy and own better things? Explain and analyze how such desires can be benefit to an individual, to families, and to society as a whole. Tell exactly what do consider the benefits of “materialistic desires” to be and tell how fulfilling these desires can be a positive good for people. Use specific examples to support your ideas.

Writing task 2:(40 points) (45 min.)
Look carefully at he map of Zhuhai below and then at the table of information. Then write a passage of about 300 words, introducing Zhuhai Special Economic Zone to the outside world.
Your passage should include a description of Zhuhai’s
n Geographical position
n Size and population
n Climate
And should highlight Zhuhai’s strength in
n Infrastructure
n Economy
And any other aspect you believe important in publicizing the Zone.
n Information about Zhuhai
Land area: 1600 sq. km.
Island area: 238.9 sq. km.
Coast line: 731 km.
Natural resources: quartz sand, porcelain clay, white clay, stone powder
Population (in 2001): 1,150,000
Climate: subtropical oceanic
Average temperature: 22.4 ℃(highest 38.5 ℃; lowest 2.5℃)
Annual rainfall: 1700-2300 mm
Infrastructure:
Highways:Linked to Macao, Guangdong & other places
Habour:Passenger liners to & from Hong Kong, Macao & elsewhere;
Freight dock (six 1,500-tonne berths & two 3,000-tonne berths)
Airport:Air routes to over 20 cities/regions/countries;
Electricity: 1. power plant (125,000 kW.)
2. transformer stations (220,000 kW. & 110,000 kW. respectively)
Water: Dajingshan Reservoir, Jida Reservoir & Jiuzhou Waterworks
Economy:
Industrial enterprises (in woolen textiles, electronics, plastics, garments, machinery, mining, fishing gear, building materials)
Foreign investment and priorities:
Electronics, textile, light industry, machinery, communications, tourism